University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Miami
Heath's Goal Lifts Tar Heels Into ACC Semifinals
November 5, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 5, 2008
ACC Select encountered some technical difficulties during the live of feed of today's Miami-Carolina game. Those issues will be resolved before the semifinal round on Friday. Be sure to watch UNC play Boston College on ACC Select on Friday at 5 p.m.
CARY, N.C.--Junior midfielder Tobin Heath tallied the lone goal of the game as the second-ranked University of North Carolina women's soccer team defeated the University of Miami 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament at Wake Med Soccer Park. Heath's goal in the 66th minute, off an assist by sophomore forward Meghan Klingenberg, allowed the Tar Heels to move on to the ACC Tournament semifinals for the 21st successive year. UNC will meet Boston College in the ACC semifinals Friday at 5 p.m. at Wake Med Soccer Park.
It was the second time in four days that the Tar Heels had played to a 1-0 decision against the stingy Hurricanes, who have allowed only 17 goals in 21 games this season and only two tallies by opposing teams since October 12. It is also the third successive game between the two teams decided by 1-0, including the Hurricanes' 1-0 win over the Heels in the 2007 regular season in Coral Gables, Fla.
Neither team was able to dent the scoreboard in the first half as the Tar Heels outshot the Hurricanes 8-3 in the first half of play. Miami goalkeeper Vikki Alonzo, who made 14 saves while facing 33 Tar Heel shots in the regular-season meeting this past Sunday, had three stops in the first half and seven for the match. Carolina was unable to capitalize on any of its four first half corner kicks as well.
In the win over the Hurricanes on Sunday, the Tar Heels were not able to get the winning goal until the 84th minute and it came from the foot of the ACC's leading scorer, Casey Nogueira. The Tar Heels (17-1-2), the tournament's No. 1 seed, did not need as long this time to break through as Heath tallied in the 66th minute, her eighth goal of the campaign.
The winning goal came at 65:52 as Klingenberg sent a through ball across the top of the box to Heath, who gathered it in and slipped free of her defender. Heath sent a shot from 10 yards out from the left side of the box into the lower right side netting.
The Tar Heels continued to pressure the Miami goal and almost came up with a couple of add-on goals. Alonzo had to make an acrobatic save at 76:57 to deny Emmalie Pfankuch in a one-on-one situation. Less than a minute later, Yael Averbuch sent a winding shot with pace that pounded off the right post.
Miami did not go away and the Hurricanes did their best to tie the game in the closing minutes. Brittney Streinbruch's shot at 88:01 was saved by Anna Rodenbough, her third stop of the second half. It came just a minute after Jessica Wyble's shot from long range went just high of the goal.
Miami fell to 10-8-3 overall with the loss. The Hurricanes were the No. 8 seed in the ACC Tournament. In the second quarterfinal game of Wednesday afternoon, Boston College defeated Duke 1-0 on a goal by Brooke Knowlton in the 13th minute. The Tar Heels and the Eagles will meet Friday in the semifinals at 5 p.m. UNC beat the Eagles 3-2 in the regular season meeting in Chapel Hill.
