CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Defending NCAA finalist North Carolina will play one of its most challenging schedules in years in 2002. The 2002 docket was officially released by the University Friday.

Coach Anson Dorrance's 2002 team will play 16 of its 20 games against teams which played in the 2001 NCAA Tournament, led by 2001 NCAA semifinalist Portland. The only teams on the UNC schedule in 2002 which did not make the tournament last year are Richmond, Florida International, Oregon and NC State.

The Tar Heels will open the season with an exhibition match against traditional rival Notre Dame on August 23 in Fort Wayne, Ind. The following weekend the Tar Heels meet Nebraska and Southern California in a tournament in Lincoln, Neb. to open the regular season. Carolina will play before a home crowd for the first time the weekend of September 6 and 8 when the Tar Heels host the Carolina Nike Classic. Other teams in that tournament include Duke, Richmond and Washington.

Carolina also plays this year in tournaments in Houston, Texas as well as at Duke and St. Mary's of California. The Tar Heels close their regular season with four successive home matches against ACC opponents.

UNC was 24-1 last year and won its 13th successive ACC title. Carolina won five games in the NCAA Tournament before falling 1-0 to second-ranked Santa Clara in the final. UNC will return eight of the 11 starters from that team and it welcomes the nation's top-ranked recruiting class as judged by Soccer America magazine.