CARY, N.C. – For the twenty eighth time in program historical past – and fourth time within the final seven NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Tournaments – the North Carolina girls’s soccer crew shall be enjoying within the nationwide championship match.
No. 2-seeded Carolina blanked top-seeded Duke, 3-0, on Friday night time within the 2024 NCAA College Cup semifinals in entrance of a offered out crowd at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. It was the fourth assembly between the 2 groups this yr, with UNC successful each of the postseason matches.
The Tar Heels, who’re ranked eighth nationally, enhance to 21-5 (7-3 ACC) on the yr. The top-ranked Blue Devils end their season at 18-3-1 (9-0-1).
Seeking its twenty third nationwide championship, the Carolina will now face Wake Forest within the nationwide title recreation on Monday, Dec. 9, at WakeMed Soccer Park. Kickoff is about for 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
How It Happened
- Maddie Dahlien drew a foul contained in the field to award Carolina a penalty kick within the tenth minute. Kate Faasse stepped as much as the spot and buried her shot to the higher proper nook to place UNC up by one.
- UNC doubled its lead within the twenty fourth minute after a Duke turnover. Bella Gaetino obtained the ball in midfield and despatched a robust over-the-top ball to Olivia Thomas in isolation. Holding off her defender and forcing the keeper off her line, Thomas’ left-footed shot from the highest of the 18 landed within the backside proper.
- Carolina practically made it three unanswered 12 minutes later when a good looking strike from Thomas bounced off the crossbar. Dahlien was in place for the rebound, however her shot sailed excessive.
- The Tar Heels carried their 2-0 lead into the break regardless of the Blue Devils outshooting them 13-8, together with 5-4 on body. Clare Gagne had 5 first-half saves.
- UNC’s solely shot in the course of the second half was all that was wanted to take a 3-0 lead. Thomas performed the ball by means of visitors in midfield to get a move to Faasse down the precise aspect. Faasse despatched a chip contained in the field which linked with Dahlien, who created simply sufficient house to get the ball off her proper boot into the decrease left nook.
- Anchored by Aven Alvarez, Trinity Armstrong, Emerson Elgin and Bella Gaetino, UNC’s stalwart again line restricted DU to simply 4 pictures in the course of the second half, and none on course.
Inside the Box Score
- Faasse scored her twentieth objective of the season, formally changing into the nation’s outright main objective scorer. She additionally recorded her fourth help.
- Faasse is the fourth Tar Heel with 20+ objectives in a single season because the flip of the century. She has essentially the most objectives (20) and factors (44) since Casey Nogueira had 25 and 58 in 2008.
- Thomas scored her eighth objective of the season, which ranks second on the crew. She additionally ranks third with 18 factors.
- Dahlien netted her second objective of the yr. She has 11 factors this season.
- Gaetino picked up the second help of her profession. She now has 12 factors to rank sixth on the roster.
- Gagne made 5 saves, all in the course of the first half. She has been credited with 12 shutouts.
- Up till now, Duke had not allowed a objective in the course of the NCAA Tournament. DU had allowed simply 13 objectives complete in the course of the yr.
- This was the primary time the Blue Devils had been shut out since their season opener on Aug. 15.
- UNC had 9 pictures to DU’s 17. Both sides had 5 pictures on body. Thomas had a game-high 4 pictures and three on course.
- Dahlien has drawn the foul on six of Carolina’s 10 penalty kicks. She was away on the World Cup for 2 of them.
- Six Tar Heels in Alvarez, Armstrong, Elgin, Gaetino, Gagne and Aria Nagai logged a full 90 minutes.
NCAA Tournament Tidbits
- North Carolina prolonged its streak as the one crew to look in all 43 NCAA Tournaments.
- The Tar Heels now have an all-time document of 152-18-5 within the NCAA Tournament. No different faculty has greater than 83.
- Carolina has gained 21 of 42 NCAA titles, plus the 1981 AIAW title for 22 nationwide championships.
- Carolina has appeared in 32 College Cups, together with 5 of the final seven. No different crew has been in additional than 14.
- UNC has now superior to the nationwide title recreation 28 occasions, together with 4 of the final seven, and has completed because the nationwide runner-up on six events.
- The Tar Heels have been a No. 2 seed 12 occasions earlier than, successful 5 NCAA crowns as a second seed, together with its final title in 2012.
- The Tar Heels are actually 28-4 all-time within the semifinals, having out-scored its semifinal opponent 68-23.
Up Next
Now one step nearer to their twenty third nationwide title in program historical past, the Tar Heels return to Cary on Monday, Dec. 9, to play of their twenty eighth nationwide championship recreation. No. 2-seed Carolina will tackle fellow No. 2-seed Wake Forest.
Action at WakeMed Soccer Park will start at 7 p.m. ET and can broadcast nationally on ESPNU with Marion Crowder, Jenn Hildreth and Lori Lindsey on name. Tickets can be found for buy right here.
This would be the second assembly this season between the Tar Heels and Demon Deacons. UNC defeated WFU, 1-0, on Sept. 12 in Chapel Hill with Faasse scoring the game-winner. Monday will mark the fifth time Carolina and Wake Forest will play one another within the NCAA Tournament, and first since 2009. UNC leads 4-0 in NCAA matches.
This may also be the primary NCAA title recreation since 1992 that two North Carolina groups will face one another.
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