University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Tennessee
Carolina Rallies Past Lady Volunteers To Claim Spot In NCAA Quarterfinals
November 23, 2002 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 23, 2002
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? Second-ranked North Carolina gave up an early goal to 11th-ranked Tennessee but battled back to beat the Lady Volunteers 3-1 in the third round of the NCAA Women's College Cup Saturday night before a crowd of 3,031 at Fetzer Field. The win moves the Tar Heels (20-1-4) on to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals next weekend where UNC will play the winner of tonight's third round game between Texas A&M and UCLA. This marks the 21st straight year the Tar Heels have advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship.
Early on Saturday night that looked very much in doubt as the Southeastern Conference champion Lady Vols (18-6-1), coached by former UNC All-America midfielder Angela Kelly (1991-94), came out and took it to the Tar Heels, registering three of the first four shots taken in the game. Tennessee's hard work paid off in a goal by Tara Minnax, her fourth of the season, at the 18:11 mark. Kayla Lockaby served as ball into the box from the left side of the pitch and Minnax's first shot was blocked off the line by UNC defender Leslie Gaston. But Minnax pounced on the loose ball and scored off her own rebound to put the Lady Vols up 1-0.
Minnax's shot, the Lady Vols' third of the match, would also be their last shot of the game as UNC's defense buckled down and prevented Tennessee from taking a shot int he final 72:49 of play.
Eventually UNC got some flow into its offensive game and it resulted in the tying goal at 34:57. Senior Susan Bush fed a ball down the left sideline that Alyssa Ramsey ran onto. Ramsey served a perfect cross to the penalty kicks mark in the middle of the penalty area and Catherine Reddick ran on to the ball and scored on a one touch past UT goalkeeper Ellen Dean. The goal was #6 of the season for Reddick, including five in the last four games.
The match looked like it would go to halftime tied before the Tar Heels scored on a similar play just 1:01 before the half. Reserve forward Leigh lomgren won possession on the right side from a UT defender and she got the ball to Reddick in the right side of the penalty area. Reddick spied Lindsay Tarpley running unattended down the middle of the pitch and Tarpley took Reddick's pass for an easy put away from about 10 yards. Tarpley's goal was her 15th of the campaign.
UNC controlled play in the second half as the Tar Heels took seven shots to none for Tennessee. Ramsey missed a brilliant opportunity early in the second half when she pushed her shot to the right. Then Bush had a one-on-one opportunity in the box minutes later that Dean stopped.
Eventually the Tar Heels got their insurance goal at 76:32 as Bush and Ramsey teammed up for the final goal of the match. Bush led Ramsey on the left wing and than Ramsey chipped the ball over Dean from the left side. The shot hit the inside of the right goal post and then ricocheted across the goal to settle into the left side netting. It was Ramsey's 15th goal of the season.
The exact date and time of UNC's quarterfinal game will be announced Monday by the NCAA Women's Soccer Committee.
#11 TENNESSEE 1 0--1 #2 NORTH CAROLINA 2 1--3Scoring
18:11--UT--Tara Minnax, 4th
34:57--UNC--Catherine Reddick, 6th (Alyssa Ramsey, Susan Bush)
43:59--UNC--Lindsay Tarpley, 15th (Catherine Reddick, Leigh Blomgren)
76:32--UNC--Alyssa Ramsey, 15th (Susan Bush)
Shots: UT 3, UNC 14
Shots on Goal: UT 2, UNC 5
Saves: Ellen Dean (UT) 2, Jenni Branam (UNC) 0, Leslie Gaston (UNC) 1
Corner Kicks: UT 2, UNC 4
Fouls: UT 14, UNC 9
Offsides: UT 8, UNC 4
Referee: George Vergara
Assistant Referees: Paul James, Mark Kadlecik
Alternate Official: Ernie Fisher
Attendance: 3,031
Records: Tennessee 18-6-1, UNC 20-1-4
