CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The seventh-ranked Virginia women’s soccer team closed out its regular season with a 1-0 overtime loss at No. 4 North Carolina Friday night at Fetzer Field. The Cavaliers fall to 11-3-4 with the loss, 5-2-3 in the ACC, while the Tar Heels improve to 15-3-0, 9-1-0 in the conference.
“This is obviously a tough game to lose,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “We made some great chances to win, especially in overtime. Our team was magnificent and I couldn’t be more proud of their effort.”
The game remained scoreless at halftime as both teams found the woodwork instead of the back of the net. In the 17th minute, UNC’s Nikki Washington’s shot hit the post denying the Tar Heels the early lead. Forty seconds later, Shannon Foley’s (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) shot at the other end struck the crossbar to keep Virginia off the scoreboard.
In the second half, the best scoring chances for both teams came in the final ten minutes but neither could take advantage. North Carolina had a pair of free kicks from just outside the box, but both soared well over the goal. In between those chances, Tar Heel keeper Ashlyn Harris had to make a diving save on Kelly Quinn’s (Dublin, Ohio) point-blank header.
In the first overtime, the Cavaliers nearly won in the 97th minute, but Harris made a save on Foley’s breakaway attempt. However, with 30 seconds remaining, Casey Nogueira scored on a breakaway for North Carolina to give them the victory.
North Carolina outshot the Cavaliers 15-9, but Virginia had a 4-2 corner kick advantage. Chantel Jones (Midlothian, Va.) made six saves in net for Virginia, while Anna Rodenbough and Harris combined for six saves for the Tar Heels.
The Cavaliers will travel next week to Lake Buena Vista, Fla. for the 2007 ACC Tournament. The quarterfinals will take place on Wednesday at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex. Virginia’s opponent and game time will be announced once all the league’s regular season games have been completed.
#4 North Carolina 1, #7 Virginia 0
#7 Virginia (11-3-4, 5-2-3) 0 0 0 0 #4 North Carolina (15-3-0, 9-1-0) 0 0 1 1
Full Scoreboard
Courtesy: Jeff Najarian