University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Notre Dame (NCAA Third Round)
Tar Heels Suffer Only Seventh Loss In NCAA History
November 24, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 24, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina's fourth-ranked women's soccer team suffered only its seventh NCAA Tournament loss in history Saturday afternoon as it fell to No. 11 Notre Dame 3-2 before 2,202 fans at Fetzer Field. Carolina saw its season end at 19-4-1 while Notre Dame advances to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals next weekend by improving to 18-4-2.
It was only the seventh Carolina loss in NCAA Tournament history as UNC falls to 94-7-1 in NCAA play. It marked the third time in the past four years that Carolina has been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament on its home field in either the third round or quarterfinal round.
Notre Dame took control of the game early by scoring back-to-back goals only 14 seconds apart in the first half. Brittany Bock scored her 15th goal of the season at 12:41 on a header off a flip throw-in by Michele Weissenhofer. Just 14 seconds later Weissenhofer stole a back pass by defender Ariel Harris intended for goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris that the UNC sophomore goalie was not able to hang on to. Weissenhofer scored into the empty net for her sixth goal of the season.
Trailing 2-0 at the half for the first time in a game since September 1, 2006 when the Heels trailed UConn, the Tar Heels broke on to the board at 46:05 on a penalty kick goal by Allie Long. Long converted the penalty kick after a hand ball by Notre Dame's Courtney Rosen in the penalty box.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish moved back to a two-goal lead at 60:19 as Weissenhofer beat the Tar Heels' offside trap and tallied on a breakaway off an assist by Courtney Rosen.
Carolina pulled back within a goal at 69:18 as Nikki Washington headed a ball into the back of the net over Notre Dame goalkeeper Lauren Karas. It was Washington's seventh goal of the season and the assist was Jessica Maxwell's as she served a free kick into the box after a Notre Dame foul.
The three goals allowed were the most given up in a game by the Tar Heels since October 17. 2000 when Carolina lost 3-2 in overtime at Florida State.
The three goals allowed by Carolina were the most in an NCAA Tournament game since November 11, 1990 when the Tar Heels beat NC State 4-3 in an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal game.
The Tar Heels outshot the Fighting Irish 13-8 and had a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.
