University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Marquette
Alyssa Rich's First Career Goal Keeps UNC Unbeaten
September 6, 2009 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 6, 2009
NOTRE DAME, IND. - Freshman forward Alyssa Rich of Cincinnati, Ohio scored her first career goal and the Carolina defense produced its fourth successive shutout effort as the No. 1-ranked North Carolina women's soccer team defeated Marquette 1-0 at Alumni Stadium in the Inn at St. Mary's Soccer Classic. UNC stayed unbeaten with the triumph at 5-0 while Marquette fell to 3-2 with the loss.
After defeating Notre Dame 6-0 Friday night, the Tar Heels won the tournament title with a 2-0 record while the host Fighting Irish and Marquette each finished with 1-1 marks and Wisconsin-Milwaukee went 0-2. In the second game on Sunday afternoon, Notre Dame defeated Wisconsin-Milwaukee 3-0.
Carolina outshot the Golden Eagles 21-6 but Carolina was able to place only six of its 21 shots on frame as finishing was an issue for the Tar Heels after their six-goal output Friday against the Fighting Irish. Fortunately, the Tar Heel defense limited Marquette to a mere six shots and only one of them was on goal. The UNC defense of senior goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, senior defenders Whitney Engen and Kristi Eveland and junior defender Rachel Givan worked together to complete UNC's fourth successive shutout effort since a season-opening 7-2 win over No. 3 UCLA.
The Inn at St. Mary's Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team was voted on by the coaches of the four teams participating in the tournament. UNC had five players named to the team - junior forward Jessica McDonald, senior midfielder Tobin Heath, freshman forward Alyssa Rich, senior forward Casey Nogueira and senior defender Whitney Engen. McDonald was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Tournament after recording the first multi-goal performance of her career in UNC's 6-0 win over Notre Dame Friday. Engen was voted the Defensive Most Valuable Player. The remainder of the All-Tournament Team included Marquette's Natalie Kulla, Rachael Sloan and Michelle Compty, Notre Dame's Courtney Barg and Melissa Henderson and Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Sarah Hagen. Natalie Kulla of Marquette was named the Most Valuable Goalkeeper of the tournament.
Carolina got all the offense it needed from reserve freshman forward Alyssa Rich who on Friday had her first career point when she assisted Brittani Bartok on Carolina's fourth goal of the game against Notre Dame. On Sunday, Rich scored her first career goal to provide the Tar Heels the margin they needed.
Rich's strike was a beauty as she finished into the upper right corner of the frame from just outside the box at 66:15 of the match.
UNC would hold that lead to the end as Carolina dominated play in the second 45 minutes, outshooting the Golden Eagles 14-2 after intermission.
Harris finished with her second solo shutout of the campaign and UNC now had four clean sheets in five matches.
UNC improved to 3-0 all-time in matches against Marquette. Next up for the Tar Heels is 10th-ranked Texas A&M, the team UNC beat last year in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals in overtime to advance to the College Cup. The game is scheduled for Saturday at Fetzer Field at 2 p.m. UNC leads the all-time series against the Aggies 11-1 and has won three in a row against Texas A&M.
