University of North Carolina Athletics
Women's Soccer Earns NCAA Semifinal Spot For 19th Successive Season
November 28, 2000 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 28, 2000
North Carolina has advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Women's College Cup for the 19th successive year and will play the tournament's #1 seed, undefeated Notre Dame, on Friday, December 1, 2000 at 5 p.m. PST at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
Coach Anson Dorrance's Tar Heels received their lowest ever NCAA Tournament seed this year, #5, but Carolina has fought its way into the semifinals nevertheless. The Tar Heels have now advanced to at least the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament every year it has been held. The first tournament was in 1982.
The 19-3 Tar Heels will meet the Fighting Irish (23-0-1) at 5 p.m. PST Friday in the semifinals. The second semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. Friday will match the Portland Pilots and the UCLA Bruins. Portland is unseeded, while UCLA is the #6 seed.
Carolina received a bye in the first round of this year's NCAA College Cup before winning three successive home games to reach the semifinals. UNC defeated Wake Forest 5-0 in the second round, Virginia 2-1 in the third round and Connecticut 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Friday's match against Notre Dame will mark this first time in the tournament that Carolina has faced another seeded team.
2000 NCAA Women's College Cup
Semifinals
#5 Seed North Carolina (19-3)
vs. #1 Seed Notre Dame (23-0-1)
Friday, December 1, 2000, 5 p.m. PST
Spartan Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
Championship Game (TBA)
Sunday, December 3, 2000, 12:30 p.m. PST
Spartan Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
CAROLINA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: North Carolina's record in NCAA Women's College Cup play is 64-3-0 heading into Friday's national semifinal game against unbeaten Notre Dame. The Tar Heels have won eight successive NCAA Tournament games starting with an 8-0 win over Central Florida on November 13, 2000.
Carolina's only three losses in NCAA Tournament play were at the hands of George Mason 2-0 in the 1985 championship match at Fairfax, Va., to Notre Dame 1-0 in a 1995 semifinal match at Chapel Hill, N.C. and to Florida 1-0 in the 1998 championship match at Greensboro, N.C. Those three games also mark the only times Carolina has been shutout in those 67 NCAA Tournament games.
UNC has won 15 of the previous 18 NCAA women's soccer tournament championships. Carolina's NCAA championships came in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1999.
Carolina has appeared in 17 of the previous 18 NCAA championship games, failing to make the NCAA title game only in 1995 when the Tar Heels were beaten on their home field in the semifinals by Notre Dame in a game decided by an own goal.
THE LIKELY STARTING LINEUP:
Carolina's starting lineup for the game Friday against the Fighting Irish is likely to be as follows. The lineup includes four seniors, three juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen.
Forwards
#11 Anne Remy Junior
#28 Meredith Florance Senior
#32 Alyssa Ramsey Freshman
Midfielders
#9 Jena Kluegel Junior
#16 Jordan Walker Freshman
#18 Raven McDonald Senior
#25 Maggie Tomecka Freshman
Defenders
#4 Julia Marslender Senior
#10 Kalli Kamholz Senior
#30 Danielle Borgman Junior
Goalkeeper
#1 Jenni Branam Sophomore
Top Reserves
#0 Kristin DePlatchett Goalkeeper (Jr.)
#5 Kim Patrick Forward (So.)
#6 Tina Murphy Forward (Sr.)
#21 Laurie Schwoy Midfielder (Sr.)
#26 Carmen Watley Midfielder (Fr.)
#29 Leslie Gaston Midfielder (So.)
#31 Catherine Reddick Defender (Fr.)
Other Reserves
#12 Nancy Hackett Defender (Sr.)
#24 Mandy Morrison Midfielder (Sr.)
#33 Johann Costa Midfielder (Jr.)
#35 Jane Smith Forward (Fr.)
FLORANCE VAULTS INTO 10TH PLACE IN CAREER SCORING AT CAROLINA:
With a magnificent senior season, forward Meredith Florance (Dallas, Texas) has moved into 10th place in career scoring at the University of North Carolina. She started the season with 90 career points and earlier this year, she became the 19th player in Tar Heel history to eclipse 100 points in her career when she totaled four points in UNC's September 3, 2000 win over Tennessee.
Florance enters the Notre Dame game Friday with 148 career points. Florance is now chasing Amy Machin on the Tar Heels' career scoring charts. Machin, who played at Carolina from 1981-84, is in ninth place in career points with 157.
Florance is now 10th in career goals at UNC with 58. Ninth place on the career goal scoring chart is currently held by Amy Machin, who scored 63 goals for the Tar Heels from 1981-84.
Meanwhile, senior midfielder Laurie Schwoy has moved into 13th place in career scoring at UNC with 122 points. Shannon Higgins ranks 12th in UNC career scoring with 129 points from 1986-89.
Schwoy is now 13th at Carolina in career goals with 43. Twelfth place in career goals is held by Carrie Serwetnyk (1984-87) who scored 46.
With 29 goals in her career, Raven McDonald has now moved into a tie for 23rd place in career goals scored at UNC. She is tied with Danielle Egan (1991-94). Jo Boobas (1983-86) ranks 22nd in UNC career goal scoring with 31.
Laurie Schwoy and junior midfielder Jena Kluegel each has 36 assists in her career at Carolina. They rank 20th in UNC career assists. Lorrie Fair (1996-99) and Janet Rayfield (1979-82) are tied for 18th on the chart with 37 assists.
Florance is tied for 23rd place in career assists at Carolina with 32 in her career. She shares that spot with three other players in UNC history.
KLUEGEL'S ASSIST TOTAL:
Jena Kluegel has 22 assists this season. That equals the fourth highest assist total in a single season in UNC history. The only players with higher totals are Mia Hamm with 33 in 1992, Pam Kalinoski with 28 in 1991 and Marcia McDermott with 23 in 1986. Kluegel's 22 assists equals Robin Confer's 22 in 1997.
The school record is Mia Hamm's assist total of 33 in 1992.
25 GOALS FOR FLORANCE:
Meredith Florance's 25 goals this season equal the seventh most goals scored in a season in Carolina history. Janet Rayfield also scored 25 goals for Carolina during the 1980 season.
The school record is Stephanie Zeh's 36 goals in 1981.
FLORANCE NAMED MOST VALUABLE PLAYER OF ACC TOURNAMENT, THREE OTHER TAR HEEL NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
North Carolina senior forward Meredith Florance continued receiving accolades during her senior season as she was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2000 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Florance scored three goals and added a pair of assists and was Carolina's leading scorer during the championship run. Three other Tar Heels were also named to the All-Tournament Team. They were junior forward Anne Remy, junior midfielder Jena Kluegel and senior defender Julia Marslender.
FIVE TAR HEELS NAMED FIRST OR SECOND TEAM ALL-ACC:
Five members of the 2000 UNC women's soccer team were named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team. Both senior forward Meredith Florance and freshman forward Alyssa Ramsey were named first-team All-ACC. Junior defender Danielle Borgman, junior midfielder Jena Kluegel and sophomore forward Susan Bush were all named second-team All-ACC.
UNC'S ALL-FRESHMAN CHOICES:
Both forward Alyssa Ramsey and midfielder Maggie Tomecka were named to the 2000 Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team.
THE TAR HEELS IN THE NATIONAL POLLS:
The Tar Heels are ranked fourth this week by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas, fourth by Soccer Times, seventh by the American Soccer Writers (ASW), seventh by Soccer Buzz and eighth by Soccer America.
CAROLINA IN THE REGIONAL RANKINGS:
The Tar Heels are ranked second this week in the Southeast Region by Soccer Buzz and by the NSCAA/adidas.
IN A NUTSHELL, THE UNC LEDGER SINCE 1979...:
Overall Record: 485-22-11 (.947)
ACC Regular-Season Record: 68-4-1 (.938)
ACC Tournament Record: 32-0-1 (.985)
AIAW Tournament Record: 5-2-0 (.714)
NCAA Tournament Record: 64-3-0 (.955)
12 ACC Tournament Championships
10 ACC Regular-Season Championships
15 NCAA Tournament Championships
1 AIAW Tournament Championship
19 NCAA Tournament Appearances
2 AIAW Tournament Appearances
21 Successive National Tournament
Semifinal Appearances
Goals Scored in Program History: 2,287
Goals Allowed in Program History: 230
All-Time Record in Chapel Hill: 207-7-2 (.963)
All-Time Record Outside from Chapel Hill (Neutral Sites and Road Games): 278-15-9 (.935)
TAR HEEL SOCCER WINS 12TH STRAIGHT ACC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP, CAROLINA NOW HAS 31-GAME WINNING STREAK IN ACC TOURNAMENT:
North Carolina has now won 31 successive Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Soccer Tournament games. UNC is 32-0-1 all-time in ACC Tournament games and have won 31 games in a row since tying the NC State 1-1 in the 1988 tournament championship game on October 30, 1988 in Raleigh. The two teams were tied 1-1 after two overtime periods and then the Wolfpack won the ACC championship on penalty kicks.
Overall, Carolina has won 13 ACC women's soccer championships and 12 ACC Tournament titles. Carolina won the ACC championship in 1987 when the title was decided in the ACC Championship Weekend at Raleigh. In that round-robin tournament Carolina went 3-0 and was declared the ACC champion.
The actual ACC Tournament began a year later and NC State won the initial title in 1988. Carolina has won the past 12 championships in a row beginning in 1989.
THE ACC LOSSES:
Obviously this was a record setting year for the Tar Heels in some unwanted ways. UNC's 4-3 ACC record was its worst record in the league from a percentage basis. Prior to this season Carolina had lost only one regular season ACC game and also had tied one game. The loss was to Duke in 1994 and the tie was with NC State in 1988.
THE OVERALL LOSSES:
Carolina currently has an overall record of 19-3. The three losses are the most losses for a Carolina women's soccer team since the 1980 team lost five games while finishing 21-5 overall. That team played in the first ever Association for Intercollegiate Athletic for Women (AIAW) National Tournament, finishing in fourth place. That tournament was held at Colorado Springs, Colo.
FINALLY, THE BACK TO BACK LOSSES:
When UNC lost back-to-back games last month to Florida State and Wake Forest, it marked the first time UNC had lost successive games since 1982. During that year the Tar Heels lost on October 16 to Missouri-St. Louis 2-1 and then they fell to Cortland State 2-1 the following day. Both games were played at the UCF Invitational in Orlando, Fla.
Later that same year Carolina returned to the same stadium in Orlando, Fla. for the first ever NCAA Tournament final four in women's soccer, beating Missouri-St. Louis and UCF to win the title.
BUSH LOST FOR THE SEASON:
The Tar Heels received a crushing blow when sophomore forward Susan Bush, the team's third-leading scorer, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during practice on Wednesday, October 25, 2000.
Bush, a member of the U.S National Team and the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the 1999 NCAA Final Four, underwent surgery on her right knee on Thursday, November 2. She will be facing a six-month rehabilitation process but should return for UNC's 2001 season when she will be a junior.
UNC'S FLORANCE RANKS THIRD NATIONALLY IN POINTS PER GAME, FIFTH NATIONALLY IN GOALS PER GAME:
North Carolina senior forward Meredith Florance of Dallas, Texas is currently ranked third nationally in points per game and fifth in the nation in goals per game.
Florance has scored 25 goals and passed for eight assists in totaling 58 points in 22 games this season, an average of 2.64 points per contest.
She has scored 25 goals in 22 games, an average of 1.14 goals per outing.
TWO TAR HEELS AMONGST TOP 20 NATIONALLY IN ASSISTS PER GAME:
Two UNC players rank among the nation's Top 20 players in assists per game this week.
Junior midfielder Jena Kluegel of Mahtomedi, Minn., ranks in the #2 spot. She has produced 22 assists in 22 games, an average of 1.00 assists per game.
Freshman striker Alyssa Ramsey of Cornelius, N.C., currently is ranked 10th in the national standings in assists per game. Ramsey has 14 assists in 21 games, an average of 0.67 per contest.
CAROLINA RANKED FIRST IN THE NATION IN OFFENSE:
Carolina's offense has been very dynamic so far this season. In fact, the Tar Heels are currently ranked #1 in the NCAA Division I statistics in scoring offense. UNC is scoring 4.23 goals per game.
CAROLINA RANKED 11TH IN THE NATION IN DEFENSE:
Carolina is ranked 11th in the nation this week in scoring defense. The Tar Heels have a team goals against average of 0.674. The Tar Heels have allowed 15 goals this season in 2,003 minutes.
THE SHUTOUT PERCENTAGE:
North Carolina ranks 19th this week in shutout percentage amongst NCAA Division I schools. The Tar Heels have shutout 11 of 22 opponents, a .500 average.
THE WINNING PERCENTAGE:
The Tar Heels have the fifth best winning percentage in Division I this week at .864.
MORE INDIVIDUAL KUDOS:
Meredith Florance's four goals against South Carolina on September 8 equal the second most scored by any player in a single game so far this season. Florance also had nine points in that game, equaling the sixth best total in a game this season.
Jena Kluegel and Anne Remy both are tied for the fourth highest assist total in a game this season. Kluegel had four assists against Tennessee on September 3 and Remy had four assists in UNC's win over South Carolina on September 8.
THE UNBEATEN STREAK:
UNC's seven-match winning streak is the third longest current unbeaten streak in NCAA Division I. Notre Dame leads at 24 games, followed by Portland at eight games.
CAROLINA INDIVIDUAL IN THE ACC STATS:
Several Carolina players head ACC individual statistical categories this week. Following are a list of the category, player, rank in the league and totals.
| Total Points | Rank | Points | |
| Meredith Florance | 1st | 58 | |
| Alyssa Ramsey | 2nd | 42 | |
| Jena Kluegel | 6th | 28 | |
| Kalli Kamholz | 7th | 25 | |
| Susan Bush | 9th | 22 | |
| Kim Patrick | 10th | 22 | |
| Goals | Rank | Goals | |
| Meredith Florance | 1st | 25 | |
| Alyssa Ramsey | 2nd | 14 | |
| Susan Bush | 6th | 9 | |
| Assists | Rank | Assists | |
| Jena Kluegel | 1st | 22 | |
| Alyssa Ramsey | 2nd | 14 | |
| Kalli Kamholz | 3rd | 13 | |
| Anne Remy | 4th | 12 | |
| Maggie Tomecka | 7th | 9 | |
| Meredith Florance | 8th | 8 | |
| Scoring Average | Rank | Avg. | |
| Meredith Florance | 1st | 2.57 | |
| Alyssa Ramsey | 2nd | 2.05 | |
| Susan Bush | 3rd | 1.83 | |
| Jena Kluegel | 6th | 1.33 | |
| Kalli Kamholz | 8th | 1.14 | |
| Kim Patrick | 10th | 1.05 | |
| Goals Per Game | Rank | Avg. | |
| Meredith Florance | 1st | 1.10 | |
| Susan Bush | 2nd | 0.75 | |
| Alyssa Ramsey | 3rd | 0.70 | |
| Assists Per Game | Rank | Avg. | |
| Jena Kluegel | 1st | 1.05 | |
| Alyssa Ramsey | 2nd | 0.65 | |
| Kalli Kamholz | 3rd | 0.57 | |
| Anne Remy | 4th | 0.52 | |
| Maggie Tomecka | 7th | 0.43 | |
| Meredith Florance | 8th | 0.38 | |
| Kim Patrick | 10th | 0.29 | |
| Goals Against Average | Rank | GAA | |
| Jenni Branam | 2nd | 0.81 | |
| Save Percentage | Rank | Pct. | |
| Jenni Branam | 7th | .737 | |
| Saves | Rank | Avg. | |
| Jenni Branam | 8th | 2.15 |
TAR HEELS IN THE ACC TEAM STATS:
North Carolina leads the ACC in scoring offense at 4.23 goals per game. The Tar Heels are also first in the league in scoring defense at 0.674 goals allowed per game and second in shutouts per game at 0.50.
ACC INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES:
The Tar Heels' nine goals against Texas on August 25 and against South Carolina on September 8 equal the best totals in the ACC this year. The Heels also have the top two team assist totals with 15 versus USC and 12 versus the Longhorns. The 15 assists against South Carolina established a new school record for assists in a game.
Meredith Florance has the top individual point total with nine versus USC and she shares the top goal total with four versus the Gamecocks. Jena Kluegel and Anne Remy both have four assists in a game this year, the top ACC individual game total, with Kluegel getting her four against Tennessee and in the NCAA Tournament win over Wake Forest and Remy four against South Carolina.
CAROLINA PLAYED 300TH NON-HOME GAME IN SCHOOL HISTORY DURING ACC TOURNAMENT:
Carolina's game against NC State in the ACC Tournament marked the 300th game in UNC history that the Tar Heels have played on either the opponents' home field or on a neutral field.
Carolina has now played 302 non-home games. Carolina has a 278-15-9 record, a winning percentage of .935.
DORRANCE COACHED 500TH GAME AS HEAD COACH EARLIER THIS SEASON:
North Carolina's game with Tennessee on September 3, 2000 marked the 500th game in the UNC women's soccer program's history, all under the tutelage of head coach Anson Dorrance.
Now in its 22nd year as a varsity team, UNC heads into this weekend with an all-time record of 483 victories, 22 losses and 11 ties.
CAROLINA GARNERS 200TH FETZER FIELD WIN AGAINST TENNESSEE:
The Tar Heels had a chance to win their 200th game in Fetzer Field history September 3, 2000 against Tennessee and they accomplished that very feat.
As the Tar Heels have swept home games this year against Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Oregon, Duke, Maryland and Wake Forest, the all-time home record for North Carolina improved to 205-7-2.
During its 22-year history, Carolina has played far more games on the road than at home. At the conclusion of play last Sunday, UNC had played 516 games all-time, 214 at home and 302 on the road.
CAROLINA WOMEN'S SOCCER GAMES BROADCAST OVER THE INTERNET AT TARHEELBLUE.COM THIS YEAR:
Tar Heel Sports Marketing is offering broadcasts of University of North Carolina women*s soccer this fall for the first time. Games are broadcast on the internet at tarheelblue.com. Please log on to tarheelblue.com approximately 10 minutes before each game to catch the pre-game show.
Following is the list of all the games to be broadcast during the 2000 season:
| Date | Opponent | Broadcast Time |
| Sept. 1 | Virginia | 6:50 p.m. |
| Sept. 3 | Tennessee | 12:50 p.m. |
| Sept. 8 | South Carolina | 6:50 p.m. |
| Sept. 10 | Oregon | 12:50 p.m. |
| Sept. 22 | William & Mary | 4:50 p.m. |
| Sept. 24 | TCU | 12:50 p.m. |
| Sept. 29 | Duke | 6:50 p.m. |
| Oct. 29 | Maryland | 12:50 p.m. |
| Nov. 2 | NC State | 12:50 p.m. |
| Nov. 5 | Duke | 12:50 p.m. |
| Nov. 12 | Wake Forest | 12:50 p.m. |
| Nov. 18 | Virginia | 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov. 24 | Connecticut | 1:50 p.m. |
This schedule is subject to change.
2000 TAR HEEL CO-CAPTAINS:
A trio of seniors were elected as tri-captains of the 2000 University of North Carolina women's soccer team. Carolina's tri-captains this year are senior defender Julia Marslender of Raleigh, N.C., senior forward Meredith Florance of Dallas, Texas, and senior midfielder Laurie Schwoy of Baltimore, Md.
FLORANCE NAMED ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Meredith Florance, a senior forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels, earned the second ACC Player of the Week honor of the 2000 season on September 11. A native of Dallas, Texas, Florance scored an ACC single-game-high four goals and tallied one assist in a 9-1 win over South Carolina on Friday, Sept. 8. Against Oregon on Sunday, Sept. 10, Florance scored one goal in a 6-0 shutout. Florance started in each of the Tar Heels' first six games, scoring a league-high nine goals and adding five assists. At that point of the year, Florance had a career total of 113 points, tying her for 13th place among North Carolina career leaders.
RAMSEY COPS ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK MENTION:
North Carolina freshman forward Alyssa Ramsey earned the first ACC Player of the Week honor September 4 after two stellar performances in games the previous weekend. Ramsey scored one goal and passed for three assists against No. 16 Virginia on Friday, Sept. 1 to help lead the top-ranked Tar Heels to their first conference win of the season. Ramsey also scored a pair of goals in a 6-1 win over Tennessee on Sunday, Sept. 3.
MCDONALD NAMED ACC CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
North Carolina senior midfielder Raven McDonald was named ACC Co-Player of the Week September 25 with Clemson's Lindsay Browne. Both players tallied five points in two games last week for their respective teams.
McDonald, a midfielder from Benson, N.C., had one assist in a 4-0 shutout over William & Mary on Friday, Sept. 22 in the Tar Heels' first game of the Duke adidas Classic. Against TCU on Sunday, Sept. 24, McDonald scored two goals in a 6-0 shutout, helping the Tar Heels win the tournament title. McDonald has started all 11 games for the Tar Heels, contributing nine points this season.
BUSH NAMED ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
North Carolina sophomore firward Susan Bush earned ACC Player of the Week honors after a near-perfect game against ACC-rival Duke on Friday, Sept. 29.
Bush, a native of Houston, Texas, was a factor in five of the Tar Heels' six goals as No. 4 North Carolina rolled past No. 11 Duke, 6-1. Bush scored three goals--including the game-winner--for the first hat trick of her career. The sophomore from the Lone Star State managed her three goals while taking only four shots in the game. She also added two assists in the game to help Carolina improve to 11-1-0 for the season and 2-1-0 in league play.
At the time, Bush had played in 10 games for the Tar Heels this season, scoring nine goals and making four assists for 22 total points. She also scored four game-winning goals during the season in games against Texas, Tennessee, William & Mary and Duke.
BALL RED-SHIRTING DURING 2000:
North Carolina has decided to red-shirt sophomore forward Elizabeth Ball during the 2000 season. Ball is the only player on this year's team taking a predetermined red-shirt season. With the plethora of options Carolina has at the attacking positions, it was felt it was in the best interest of both Ball and the program to let her sit and retain an extra year of eligibility. She continues to practice with the team.
JENA KLUEGEL NAMED TO SOCCER AMERICA TEAM OF THE WEEK AUGUST 29:
M Jena Kluegel (North Carolina) (1)
71st-minute gamewinner against Texas A&M
THREE TAR HEELS EARN PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS FROM SOCCER BUZZ:
Soccer Buzz has announced its Elite 12 who make up its Preseason All-America team. This preseason honor is limited to the Top 12 players heading into the Fall 2000 season.
Preseason #1 North Carolina heads the list with three players making the team. Returning All-Americas Danielle Borgman and Laurie Schwoy are joined by sophomore Susan Bush, expected to be much improved after an injury plagued freshman campaign.
Santa Clara grabbed two spots with recently named Olympic Team Member, Danielle Slaton, being joined by Broncos teammate Aly Wagner. 1999 National Freshman of the Year, Christie Welsh of Penn State, earned a spot on the team and was joined at the forward slots by Florida junior Abby Wambach and scoring sensation Katy Robertson of George Mason.
Borgman and Slaton were joined by BYU's Staci Reynolds in the back while Dartmouth senior Kristin Luckenbill inked the goalkeeping position.
Stacey Tullock of Arizona State filled a midfield slot and Notre Dame's Anne Makinen rounded out the team. Makinen was named the 2000 Soccer Buzz Preseason Player of the Year after scoring 13 goals and 12 assists in 1999 to earn her third straight All-America honor. Makinen becomes the first international player to earn Player of the Year honors (pre or postseason).
TAR HEELS SET NEW NCAA WOMEN'S ATTENDANCE RECORD:
The University of North Carolina established a new record for women's soccer per game attendance during the 1999 season. The Tar Heels averaged 3,196 fans per game during 12 home games during the 1999 season. The total home attendance was also a record with 38,350 fans attending Carolina games at Fetzer Field last year.
During the 2000 season the Tar Heels averaged 3,148 fans per game in their eight home games, just short of the record.
North Carolina has now led the nation in average per game home attendance every year from 1995 through 1999 with averages of 2,201 in 1995, 2,343 in 1996, 2,401 in 1997, 3,046 in 1998 and 3,196 in 1999.
UNC averaged 3,196 fans per game last season, topped by a crowd of 5,055 for the NCAA Tournament third round game against William & Mary. That was an attendance record for any NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament game at the first, second, third or quarterfinal round level. Carolina's total home attendance for last year was 38,350.
The Carolina-Notre Dame crowd of 6,024 on September 13, 1998 was the second largest for a UNC game in the history of Fetzer Field and the largest crowd for a regular-season game. The largest crowd was a throng of 7,212 fans which saw UNC play Notre Dame on December 1, 1995 in the NCAA semifinals.
In 1995, Carolina led the nation in average home attendance with 2,201 per game and was second nationally in total home attendance with a total of 19,809 fans. The University of Portland led the nation that year in total home attendance.
In 1996, the Tar Heels led the nation in both average (2,343) and total (23,432) home attendance.
During the 1997 season, UNC was #1 nationally in average home attendance and #1 in total home attendance. The Tar Heels drew 21,607 fans in nine home games, an average of 2,401 per contest.
In 1998, Carolina played before 24,366 fans in eight home games at Fetzer Field, an average of 3,046 per contest.
THE DORRANCE LEDGER:
Tar Heel head coach Anson Dorrance was named as the head coach of the Carolina women*s soccer program for the fall of 1979 when the Tar Heel program was founded by the UNC Department of Athletics. In the 22 years of the program*s existence, UNC has posted a record 485-22-11, a winning percentage of .947, all under Dorrance's brilliant coaching leadership.
CAROLINA*S RIGOROUS SCHEDULE:
As is always the case, the 1999 Tar Heel schedule reads like a who's who of the nation's Top 25 teams. Carolina has already played 10 teams ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25, defeating #11 Texas A&M 4-1 on August 27, #16 Virginia 6-1 on September 1, #8 Penn State 1-0 on September 15, #18 SMU 2-0 on September 17, #11 Duke 6-1 on September 29, #16 Florida State 3-0 on November 3, #14 Virginia 2-1 on November 18 and #13 Connecticut 3-0 on November 24 and losing at #4 Clemson 2-1 on September 13 and at #23 Florida State 3-2 in overtime on October 17.
THE TAR HEELS IN THE 1990S:
Carolina had the best winning percentage and the most total wins in the decade of the 1990s in collegiate women*s soccer.
From 1990-99, UNC had a record of 243-7-3. The Tar Heels also had a winning percentage of .968 in the decade.
CAROLINA'S RETIRED NUMBERS:
The following women's soccer jersey numbers have been retired by the University of North Carolina Athletic Council: #2 - April Heinrichs, 1983-86, #3 - Shannon Higgins, 1986-89, #8 - Debbie Keller, 1993-96, #13 - Tisha Venturini, 1991-94, #15 - Kristine Lilly, 1989-92, #19 - Mia Hamm, 1989-93.
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS:
In 518 games in its illustrious soccer history, Carolina has outscored its opponents by 2,057 goals. UNC has scored 2,287 goals in its history while allowing 230, a margin of 2,057 goals. Carolina has averaged scoring 4.42 goals per game in those 518 previous games. Its opponents have scored 0.45 goals per game in the Tar Heels' 20-year history.
THE LAST 15 SEASONS OF CAROLINA SOCCER--ABSOLUTELY AMAZING:
In the last 15 years of women*s soccer at Carolina, beginning with the 1986 season opener, UNC is 351-10-9, a winning percentage of .961. Over the last 15 years, UNC has had a 92-game winning streak (1990-94), a 101-game unbeaten streak (1990-93) and a 103-game unbeaten streak (1986-90).
THE HOME RECORD:
Carolina has an all-time home record of 207-7-2 in games in Chapel Hill. That*s a winning percentage of .963.
Carolina*s only three home losses since the 1980 season have been to Duke in 1994, to Notre Dame in 1995 and to Penn State in 1999. UNC also tied George Mason at home in 1985 and Central Florida in 1986. Carolina also lost two games at home in 1979 to the McLean Grasshoppers and two in 1980 at home to Virginia Select.
PUNCHING THE CLOCK:
Over the past 15 years, the Tar Heels have played 370 games for a total of 32,598 minutes and 54 seconds. UNC has trailed at some point in only 39 of those 370 games for a total of 843:42 minutes.
AND NOW THERE WERE FOUR:
Only four opponents in Carolina*s 20-year women*s soccer history have beaten UNC more than once. By beating Carolina 2-1 in overtime October 4, 1996, Notre Dame became the fourth opponent to join that select company. The only teams to turn the trick have been Virginia Select (3-0 versus Carolina), the McLean Grasshoppers (2-0 versus UNC), Notre Dame (2-6-2 versus the Heels) and Connecticut (2-13 versus North Carolina). Notre Dame is the only collegiate opponent to beat UNC in two consecutive meetings in UNC history.
CAROLINA IN OVERTIME:
UNC has played 23 overtime games in its illustrious 22-year women's soccer history. The Tar Heels are 12-3-8 in those games.
Carolina has played five overtime games in its NCAA Tournament history, going 5-0 in those games. UNC is 2-0-1 in the ACC Tournament in overtime during its history.
