Tar Heels Fall To Princeton In NCAA Third Round

Sunday, November 19

Cary, N.C.

1 p.m.

North Carolina

17-3-2

Princeton

16-2-1

OT 3

Princeton

North Carolina

Bridgette Andrzejewski had the game tying goal in 25th minute of play.

Photo by: Andy Mead

November 19, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (pdf)Anson Dorrance Post Game (mp3)

UNC finishes season 17-3-2

By: Dave Lohse

CARY, N.C. – Princeton scored a pair of opportunistic goals to defeat North Carolina 2-1 in overtime in the NCAA Tournament third round at WakeMed Soccer Park's Koka Booth Stadium.

With the victory the Tigers (16-2-1) advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals next weekend against either UCLA or Virginia. Those teams play in the third round on Sunday night in Los Angeles with the winner hosting the Tigers next weekend with a trip to the College Cup on the line.

North Carolina saw its season end at 17-3-2. The Tar Heels lost for the first time since September 7 when they fell at Penn State 1-0.

The Tar Heels outshot the Tigers 24-9 in the game and had a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. UNC's edge in shots on goal was 8-3.

The Tigers got an early goal at 3:49 of the game when Tar Heel goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak came off her line to clear a ball as two Carolina defenders and Princeton's Mimi Asom all converged at the top of the 18-yard box. Leshnak's clear went off of UNC defender Taylor Otto and bounded into the goal from 20 yards out for an own goal.

Carolina outshot the Tigers 10-4 in the first half of the game and eventually got an equalizer at 24:56 of the match. Leshnak's punt was headed on by Dorian Bailey who found Zoe Redei in the middle of the pitch. Redei headed the ball on to Carolina's Bridgette Andrzejewski who dribbled into the box on the right side and sent a rocket past Princeton goalkeeper Natalie Grossi into the goal from 12 yards away.

Carolina had an 11-4 edge in shots in the second half and almost found a game-winner by Joanna Boyles on a free kick at 87:23 only to see her shot from 28 yards out clang off the cross bar. Princeton's Natalie Grossi made five of her saves in the second half and kept the game tied heading into overtime.

Late in the first period of overtime, Princeton struck for the winning goal. It came from Abby Givens, her 11^th goal of the season. Givens was in a battle with UNC defender Lotte Wubben-Moy for the ball and Leshnak came out to try to squelch the goal scoring chance but Givens toe poked the ball into the empty net for the game-winner at 98:18. Assists on the goal were credited to Natalie Larkin and Mimi Asom.

The game was played before a crowd of 1,100 fans at UNC's temporary home at WakeMed Soccer Stadium. UNC will be back in the newly reconstructed Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill for the 2018 season.

Sunday's game marked the final Tar Heel appearance for six Tar Heel seniors – Joanna Boyles, Abby Elinsky, Megan Buckingam, Cannon Clough, Frances Reuland and Maya Worth.