North Carolina
Santa Clara
Women's Soccer Falls to No. 1 Santa Clara
September 24, 1999 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 24, 1999
DURHAM, N.C. -- On the 14th try the No.1 Santa Clara University finally found the winning formula against third-ranked North Carolina in women's soccer. In a tightly fought series between two college soccer megapowers the Tar Heels had always found a way to win 13 times before. But on Friday night in the opening game of the 1999 Duke adidas women's Soccer Classic at Koskinen Stadium the Heels finally ran out of luck as the Broncos won 1-0 before 3,218 fans.
The Tar Heels were done in by an own goal in the 18th minute, the second time in the Tar Heels last four losses when an own goal has made the difference in the game. The goal started with a Santa Clara corner kick that was cleared out and found Santa Clara defender Nikki Serlenga 20 yards away on the right side. Serlengas soft shot was going to go wide to the right of the goal but a Tar Heel defender mishit the ball near the end line and it caromed off UNC goalkeeper Jenni Branams leg and slowly crossed the goal line.
In soccer goals like that usually end up being of paramount importance and this one was as Santa Clara remained undefeated at 8-0-0. The Tar Heels fell to 6-2-0, the first time since 1985 that UNC has lost as many as two games in the same season. The Heels finished 18-2-1 in 1985 and were the NCAA runnerups. Since that loss to George Mason in the 1985 NCAA championship game Carolina has lost only six games in the past 14 seasons, two of them by 1-0 margins on own goals. The other occasion came in the 1995 NCAA semifinals when Notre Dame defeated the Tar Heels on an own goal.
It is ironic that the only score came on an own goal as both teams had brilliant opportunities that were stopped by outstanding goalie play on both sides. Branam, a freshman, had five saves on the night, none bigger than a one-on-one stop of Mandy Clemens just minutes before the own goal. Santa Clara backup goalie Alice Gleason had three saves and she took away apparent goals by UNCs Jena Kluegel and Meredith Florance in the second half with her play.
Santa Clara dominated the opening 45 minutes and had the better scoring opportunities. UNC mastered play in the second half, outshooting the Broncos 5-2, but being unable to convert its opportunities as so often happens in the game of soccer.
Both teams will continue play in the Duke adidas women's Soccer Classic on Sunday with UNC playing No.6 Southern California at 1 p.m. and Santa Clara battling with No.19 Duke at 3 p.m. at Koskinen Stadium in Durham.
No.1 SANTA CLARA 1 0--1 No.3 NORTH CAROLINA 0 0--0
SCU: Own Goal, 17:38
Shots: Santa Clara 8, North Carolina 10
Corner Kicks: Santa Clara 2, North Carolina 5
Goalie Saves: Crystal Gordon (SCU) 1, Alice Gleason (SCU) 3, Jenni Branam (UNC) 5
Fouls: Santa Clara 13, North Carolina 15
Offsides: Santa Clara 4, North Carolina 3
Yellow Cards: Kim Pickup (SCU), 2:41, hard tackle, Lindsay Stoecker (UNC), 28:42, hard tackle, Anne Remy (UNC), 57:26, delay of game
Officials: Paul James (Referee), Andre Sies (Assistant Referee), Terry Boose (Assistant Referee)
Records: Santa Clara 8-0-0, North Carolina 6-2-0
Attendance: 3,218
Starting Lineups:
Santa Clara - Crystal Gordon (GK), Mandy Clemens (F), Aly Wagner (M), Kylie Bivens (D), Nikki Serlenga (M), Heather Aldama (F), Devvyn Hawkins (M), Kim Pickup (D), Danielle Slaton (D), Anna Kraus (D), Jacqui Little (F)
North Carolina - Jenni Branam (GK), Kim Patrick (CF), Rebekah McDowell (DCM), Jena Kluegel (RM), Kalli Kamholz (LB), Anne Remy (RW), Lorrie Fair (ACM), Lindsay Stoecker (CB), Raven McDonald (LM), Meredith Florance (LW), Danielle Borgman (RB)
