University of North Carolina Athletics
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Florida
O'Reilly's Goal Lifts Tar Heels To Duke Adidas Classic Championship
September 17, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 17, 2006
DURHAM, N.C. - A goal by All-America forward Heather O'Reilly in the 17th minute was enough offense for the No. 5 North Carolina women's soccer team as the Tar Heels defeated Florida 1-0 Sunday afternoon to claim the championship of the Duke adidas Classic at Koskinen Stadium. Carolina finished its 2006 non-conference schedule with a record of 8-1 while Florida fell to 4-3-1 with the loss.
The only goal of the game came at 16:39 when O'Reilly stole an errant pass by a Florida defender, pushed the ball ahead once with a single dribble and beat Florida goalkeeper Brittni Goodwin to the lower right corner of the goal from 20 yards away. The goal was O'Reilly's second of the season and her first game-winning goal.
Carolina is ranked No. 5 nationally this week by all four major polls while Florida is No. 18 in the Soccer America and Soccer Buzz rankings and unranked by the NSCAA and Soccer Times.
Anna Rodenbough went all the way in goal for the Tar Heels, making one save as UNC outshot the Gators 14-3. Goodwin made five saves, including one on a penalty kick by Carolina's Yael Averbuch that could have put the game away for the Heels. Rodenbough recorded her fifth straight solo shutout and her seventh shutout of the season in the first nine matches.
Carolina had the first good scoring chance of the game with 38:29 left in the first half when O'Reilly took a cross and had a shot at the six-yard line that was saved by Goodwin.
With 33:19 left in the first half, Ameera Abdullah of the Gators had a shot at an empty net but her attempt hit the left side of the net. After O'Reilly's goal, Florida had the last good scoring chance of the first half as Bianca Gibbs took a shot from 18 yards out on the right side that Rodenbough grabbed out of the air as it was headed for the upper left corner. The play was set up by a free kick from the far left side that UNC initially cleared out. But the ball went straight to Gibbs for her scoring chance.
The Tar Heels had three more outstanding scoring chances in the second half while outshooting the Gators 8-1 in the second 45 minutes. O'Reilly got behind the defense with 38:01 left but missed just to the right. Whitney Engen had a shot in the box saved by Goodwin with 32:01 left.
At 25:49, Averbuch was awarded a penalty kick after a hand ball in the box by Abdullah. Tobin Heath served the ball into the box from the far left wing that was touched by Abdullah. But Goodwin saved Averbuch's penalty kick attempt and then Averbuch sent the rebound over the top of the bar.
Heather O'Reilly was named the offensive Most Valuable Player of the Tournament for UNC while Kristi Eveland was UNC's Defensive MVP. Carolina's Yael Averbuch and Nikki Washington were also named to the All-Tournament Team.
This is the third successive weekend the Tar Heels have claimed a tournament championship. They won the East Coast Invitational in New Haven, Conn., two weekends ago and the Nike Portland Invitational last weekend.
The Tar Heels will begin their 2006 Atlantic Coast Conference season on Thursday when it plays host to undefeated Florida State at 8 p.m. at Fetzer Field. The game will be televised nationally by Fox Soccer Channel. FSU is currently ranked No. 1 by Soccer America and it is No. 2 in the NSCAA, Soccer Buzz and Soccer Times polls.
FLORIDA 0 0--0
NORTH CAROLINA 1 0--1
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