For most teams, splitting time in net is an odd occurrence perceived by some to be a lack of confidence in either goaltender.

For North Carolina, it’s become something of a mainstay, allowing both goalies to stay fresh, keep the opposition guessing and provide a competitive atmosphere in practice.

Also, it’s worked.

As coach Jenny Levy attempted to figure how the new pieces of her 2018 squad would fit into the grand scheme, one area that remained in flux was in the crease.

Levy’s two-goalie system was utilized to start the season with sophomore Elise Hennessey earning the first-half minutes, while redshirt freshman Taylor Moreno polished off the game in the second half.

After a 16-15 overtime win over Maryland, in which Moreno was credited with the victory, UNC was beat by seven goals against Florida. That left the Tar Heels at 3-2 entering ACC play against an undefeated Virginia squad averaging 15.8 goals per game.

That’s when Levy inserted Moreno into the starting lineup against the Cavaliers.

“Ironically, it was the first game she ever started in her career,” Levy said, “because in high school she never started a game.”

Moreover, it was Moreno’s first full game she ever played as she stopped 17 Cavalier shots en route to a 13-9 win in Charlottesville.

Levy hasn’t been afraid to mix and match with her goalies before.

The Tar Heels won the 2016 national title with two stellar netminders, Megan Ward and Caylee Waters. Sometimes they each had a half, sometimes the other came in reserve if one was struggling. Sometimes, as was evidenced in the 2016 national title game with Ward, Levy stuck with the starter if she was hot, and won the game.

In Moreno, Levy sees a similarity that carried Ward and that UNC team to the national championship.

“[Moreno is] consistent in how she approaches the game,” Levy said. “I would probably say Meg Ward mentally would be the closest to that.”

After the Virginia game, Moreno nearly pitched a shutout against Elon, eventually conceding a goal with 11:51 remaining in a 12-1 victory. Then she suffered an injury against Northwestern that kept her out for the next four games. She wouldn’t return to starting duties until the ACC semifinals in a 14-8 win over Virginia Tech, a full month after the Northwestern game. 

Despite being so impressive in such a small amount of time, Moreno is not even eligible for national rankings because she hasn’t played enough minutes.

If she was, her .555 save percentage would rank second nationally and tops all starting goalies still playing this weekend. Additionally, her 9.57 goals-against average would put her 12th nationally, which is just second to Boston College's Lauren Daly among this weekend’s goalies.

North Carolina is 7-0 in games in which she starts and she’s the only goalie to have a win over Maryland this season. Moreno’s 11.91 saves per 60 minutes has been remarkable and her shot-stopping ability has provided some ease and calm to the defense in front of her.

“Anytime there’s a great goalie behind a defensive unit, there’s a lot of confidence in the players,” Levy said of her team’s defensive composure. “It helps the defensive unit continue to grow and get better. They understand what risks they can take and things she can save and things she can’t.”

Since her return as the full-time starter, Moreno has been lights out. She’s averaged 14 saves per game, stopping at least 11 shots in each of the last four wins, which included a pair of 17-save performances.

Her emergence in net is part of a larger trend of younger Tar Heels who are getting their chance to prove they belong on the field and can contribute to the winning legacy of the program.

“We’ve grown everywhere,” Levy said. “We had so much to replace after our 2017 team. We had 12 seniors and nine starters graduate. We had a lot of ground to cover this year with this group.”

Down the stretch, North Carolina can rely on a backstop that has frustrated opposing offenses.

“Taylor's been really great for us and somebody who consistently sees the ball really well and is a competitor,” said Levy.

Oh, and the only team that has beaten Moreno? (Hint: it’s Friday’s opponent).

Another standout performance from Moreno would not only provide redemption from that early season loss to James Madison, but also put North Carolina in its fourth NCAA title game in six years.