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Close counted for something, but not a victory for Tennessee's women's soccer team Sunday afternoon.

The 14th-ranked Lady Vols were beaten by No. 2 North Carolina 1-0 at the Aggie Soccer Invitational in College Station, Texas. Other than a draw in 2004, it was the closest result in UT's 10 games against women's soccer's preeminent program.

"We didn't win so that's never going to be acceptable but if we continue to compete this way and build on this, we're going to be in every match and battling with the best teams in the country,'' Lady Vols coach Angela Kelly said. "That's all I can ask for."

The Lady Vols' effort was better than Friday night, when they were beaten by Indiana 2-0.

"Friday was a disappointment to me and my staff because we just didn't compete and that needed to change,'' Kelly said. "Today our players represented themselves, their teammates and the University of Tennessee very well. They executed our game plan."

North Carolina forward Nikki Washington score the Tar Heels' goal in the 28th minute. She dribbled into the box from the left wing and cracked a shot by Lady Vols goalkeeper Jaimel Johnson from 12 yards.

"(Washington) deserves all the credit in the world,'' Kelly said, "because I think Jaimel Johnson had a fantastic game."

Tennessee (1-2) opens its home season Friday in the First Tennessee Lady Vol Classic.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.