March 24, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Forward Heather O'Reilly, who led the North Carolina women's soccer team to NCAA championships in 2003 and 2006, had her No. 20 officially retired at halftime of last month's Tar Heel men's basketball game versus Wake Forest. At the same time, O'Reilly was also awarded the 2007 Patterson Medal as the outstanding female student-athlete at North Carolina during the 2006-07 school year and was also awarded the Honda Soccer Award as the National Player of the Year in 2006. Various University and community officials participated in the ceremonies.

O'Reilly became the 14th Tar Heel women's soccer player to have her number retired, joining No. 2 April Heinrichs, No. 3 Shannon Higgins, No. 7 Robin Confer, No. 8 Debbie Keller, No. 13 Tisha Venturini, No. 14 Lorrie Fair, No. 15 Kristine Lilly, No. 19 Mia Hamm, No. 22 Cindy Parlow, No. 25 Lindsay Tarpley, No. 27 Staci Wilson, No. 28 Meredith Florance and No. 31 Catherine Reddick.

Yael Averbuch, who will be a senior midfielder for the Tar Heels in 2008, will have her No. 17 retired at the conclusion of her senior year, becoming the 15th Tar Heel to have her number retired.