DTH Columns

Dec. 1 , 2004 — Aspirations dashed for UNC fall sports

After some ludicrously good weather these past few months, it's finally starting to get cold. It's almost nippy enough to consider putting on a jacket before stepping outside.

The sudden influx of cold air is a sign that Bob Dylan was right and the times, they are a-changin'.

But it's not soon enough for North Carolina's sports teams.

The fall season was bittersweet for the Tar Heels. High expectations dissolved, inconsistency reigned, and upsets ruled the day. Every UNC success seemed to be tempered by failure.

The field hockey and women's soccer teams began the season with national championship aspirations.

Both justified the early attention with stellar regular-season play. Women's soccer finished 16-0-1 - completing an unbeaten regular season for the second year in a row - while field hockey posted an 18-1 mark before postseason play, toppling powerhouses such as Wake Forest and Duke along the way.

Once they reached their respective NCAA Tournaments, the two squads were victimized by shoddy seeding. Both faced the fourth-ranked team earlier than would be expected and were booted unceremoniously from the bracket.

The teams are forced to settle for the knowledge that, barring Notre Dame finishing off a title run in soccer, both UNC teams will finish with the best records in their sports this year.

Meanwhile, men's soccer entered this year ranked No. 5 in the country but plummeted out of the polls after a 3-6-2 start. A furious comeback, keyed by a five-game win streak, earned the team a berth in the NCAA Tournament. But George Washington forced the Tar Heels to make a quick exit, beating UNC 1-0 in the first round.

The lone outright success has been football. John Bunting has the program participating in post-season play for the first time since 2001. It's a remarkable feat, considering the team's 3-9 and 2-10 records the previous two years.

But even this season's monumental victory against Miami is tempered by UNC's failure to parlay the momentum and knock off Virginia Tech the following week.

Had the Tar Heels done that - they were a dump pass away from remaining within field goal range - they would be in the running for a share of the ACC championship.

Maybe that's sour grapes, but if there's going to be one beacon of light shining through the murky fog of a dim season, why couldn't it be an incandescent beam of fire rather than the wavering glow of an encased candle?

Although the chilly air of wintry weather might have extinguished the smoldering fires of fall sports' failed expectations, a new crop of Tar Heels are primed to provide the heat.

The No. 2 women's squad has earned the highest ranking in program history after fast-breaking to a 5-0 start that includes a victory against perennial favorite Connecticut. Ivory Latta, Camille Little and standout freshman Erlana Larkins are looking to lead UNC to its second championship.

Meanwhile, their male counterparts - currently ranked No. 9 and picked by Sports Illustrated and Dick Vitale to win it all - spent the last four games proving that their opening loss at Santa Clara was a fluke, winning by an average of 24 points.

So while the crisp winter winds are whipping in from their summer vacation, warm yourselves with the fires provided by UNC basketball.

Just be careful - they might get too hot to handle.