University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Portland
#1 North Carolina, #4 Portland Play To Scoreless Tie
October 14, 2002 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 28, 2002
PORTLAND, ORE. - Top-ranked North Carolina and Portland (#4 Soccer Times, #5 Soccer America, #6 NSCAA coaches, #6 Soccer Buzz) played to a scoreless tie in women's soccer action Saturday afternoon in a regionally televised match. In front of the fifth-largest Merlo Field crowd ever at 4,140, the Pilots outshot the Tar Heels 17-10 in a game largely played in the middle three-fifths of the pitch. Portland's record moved to 7-2-1, while North Carolina stands at 7-0-2.
Coach Anson Dorrance's team, playing without eight squad members because of various injuries, was stretched to the limit by a Portland team which exhibited great resolve. Portland, now 0-7-1 all-time against North Carolina, put up three shots in the second overtime period, but Erin Misaki's shot from the top of the box was less than a foot wide left midway through the period, Wanda Rozwadowskas 5-foot header sailed over the cross-bar with 1:20 left to play, and Christine Sinclairs sliding bullet from less than two yards out skimmed past the left post with less than a ball's clearance.
The Pilots outshot the Tar Heels 6-1 in the two overtime periods, and 11-9 in regulation. Portland forced six shots on goal, but Tar Heel freshman goalkeeper Aly Winget made three diving stops among her six saves. Winget played her best game yet as a Tar Heel and posted the first solo shutout of her career. Winget now has a record of 5-0-1 this season after she came on in the third game of the campaign for injured starter Jenni Branam. Portland goalkeeper Lauren Arase had two saves for her fourth shutout of the season, and the Pilot defense was outstanding for the team's sixth shutout in 10 matches.
The most serious Tar Heel scoring opportunity - other than three corner kicks - was a well-struck free kick by Catherine Reddick at 86:45, some 30 yards from goal. Reddicks blistering shot, however, sailed over the Portland goal.
The 0-0 result was North Carolinas first scoreless draw since a 0-0 result against Notre Dame in 1994, and only the fourth draw for the program since the 1990 season. UNC had not had a tie game since 1997 but has tied twice this year on the road--in the season opener at #8 Nebraska 1-1 and in Saturday's game. The last meeting between the two teams was a 2-1 UNC win in the semifinals of the 2001 NCAA Womens College Cup.
The game was UNC's first scoreless game since losing 1-0 to Santa Clara in last year's national championship game.
Carolina will continue its 11-match road trip with the sixth game of the trip Sunday at Oregon at 4 p.m. EDT.
