University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Wake Forest
Carolina Withstands Late Wake Rally, Clinches Top Seed At ACC Tournament
October 30, 2002 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2002
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The second-ranked North Carolina women's soccer team got out to a 3-0 lead over 16th-ranked Wake Forest at Spry Stadium Wednesday night and then withstood a furious Demon Deacon rally to post a 3-2 victory and in the process clinch the top seed in the 2002 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Carolina improved to 4-1-1 in the ACC with the win, clinching no worse than a tie for the ACC regular season championship. The Heels will be the top seed in next week's ACC Tournament in Tallahassee November 7-10 as they hold the tiebreaker over any other team going in.
This was the third straight regular season game between the two teams decided by one goal. Although the Tar Heels were not thrilled to see their 3-0 lead almost disinegrate they liked the outcome far more than when Wake defeated the Tar Heels in the last regular season meeting at Spry Stadium in 2000, a 1-0 Demon Deacon victory.
With the victory Carolina is now 14-1-3 on the season, 4-1-1 in the ACC. Wake Forest is 12-5-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the ACC. After starting the season 9-0, Wake has gone 3-5-1 in its last nine games.
Carolina's two season-long leading scorers led the way for Coach Anson Dorrance's team as junior forward Alyssa Ramsey had two goals for the Tar Heels and freshman forward Lindsay Tarpley the third score. Sarah Kozey had both goals for the Demon Deacons.
Ramsey opened the scoring in the game at 26:13 as she took a pass from Tarpley and booted the ball over the Wake defense into the goal from about 30 yards out. It was Ramsey's 13th goal of the season. Just over four minutes later, Ramsey scored her 14th goal on a pass from sophomore forward Anne Morrell. The time of the goal was 30:29.
UNC extended its lead at 54:31 as Tarpley scored the eventual game-winning goal, assisted by senior forward Susan Bush. Bush served a ball from the left side into the box and Tarpley finished the play to put Carolina up 3-0.
Wake struck back with Kozey's sixth goal of the season, assisted by Liz McDowell at 61:57. Kozey scored on a long range shot fromabout 35 yards straight out. Wake then finished the scoring at 86:46 on Kozey's seventh goal of the season, assisted by Katie Johnson and Meagan Mullins.
The goalies for both teams were busy all night. UNC split time between Jenni Branam (42:55) and Aly Winget (47:05). Each had four saves and allowed one goal. Erin Regan went the whole way for the Demon Deacons, making seven saves and allowing the three goals.
Wake and Carolina both had 10 shots on cage althought the Deacs took more overall shots, 19-14. Carolina had seven corner kicks to only two for the Deacons. Carolina will host #23 Maryland (11-6, ACC 3-3) in the regular season finale Friday night at Fetzer Field at 7 p.m. A win by Maryland Friday coupled with a win by Florida State over Virginia Saturday would leave the two teams tied atop the ACC standings at 4-2-1 each but UNC would still be the ACC Tournament's top seed because UNC beat Florida State 5-1 in the regular season in Tallahassee. A win or a tie for Carolina will assure the Tar Heels of an undisputed ACC regular season crown.
Friday night will also be senior night at Fetzer Field as Carolina's three seniors play their final regular season home game. All three are starters--goalkeeper Jenni Branam, forward Susan Bush and defender Leslie Gaston.
#2 NORTH CAROLINA 2 1--3
#16 WAKE FOREST 0 2--2
Scoring
26:13--UNC--Alyssa Ramsey (13th) (Lindsay Tarpley)
30:29--UNC--Alyssa Ramsey (14th) (Anne Morrell)
54:31--UNC--Lindsay Tarpley (11th) (Susan Bush)
61:57--WFU--Sarah Kozey (6th) (Liz McDowell)
86:46--WFU--Sarah Kozey (7th) (Katie Johnson, Meagan Mullins)
Shots: UNC 14, WFU 19
Shots on Goal: UNC 10, WFU 10
Saves: Jenni Branam (UNC) 4, Aly Winget (UNC) 4, Erin Regan (WFU) 7
Corner Kicks: UNC 7, WFU 2
Fouls: UNC 15, WFU 9
Offsides: UNC 3, WFU 3
Records: UNC 14-1-3, ACC 4-1-1; WFU 12-5-1, ACC 2-3-1
