Russo's Goal Lifts Tar Heels Past Wolfpack in ACC Semifinal

Friday, November 3

Charleston, S.C.

8 p.m.

North Carolina

14-2-2

NC State

14-5-1

NC State

North Carolina

Alessia Russo scored her sixth game-winning goal in 2017 to down NC State.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 3, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Watch Highlights on You Tube UNC vs. NC State Box Score (pdf)Dorrance Post-Game (mp3)Russo Post-Game (mp3)

Carolina improves to 14-2-2 on season and plays Duke Sunday.

By: Dave Lohse

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Alessia Russo's world class goal from distance was the difference in the game as the #4 North Carolina women's soccer team defeated #24 NC State 1-0 Friday night at MUSC Health Stadium in the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinals.

With the victory, the Tar Heels improved to 14-2-2 on the season and will now meet ACC regular season champion Duke Sunday at 1 p.m. in the championship match which will be televised on ESPNU. NC State is now 14-5-1 with the loss to the Tar Heels. Duke defeated Virginia 1-0 in the first semifinal game Friday.

NC State and North Carolina did not meet in this year's regular season and the match was the first between the two teams in the ACC Tournament since 2006. UNC was the No. 2 seed in this year's tournament and NC State was seeded third. Carolina is ranked fourth in the latest United Soccer Coaches' poll while NC State is ranked 24^th. The most recent meeting between the two teams had seen NC State defeat North Carolina 1-0 at Fetzer Field on September 17, 2016.

UNC outshot the Wolfpack 9-2 in the match on Friday, 4-1 in the first half and 5-2 in the second half. Both teams took four corner kicks.

The only goal of the game came at the 55:33 mark as Alessia Russo tallied her ninth goal of the season, scorching the upper right corner of the net from 24 yards out. It was the ninth time Russo has scored this season and the seventh goal she has scored from outside the penalty area. It was also her sixth game-winning goal this campaign.

Russo's shot was one of only two put on frame by the Tar Heels in the match as Sydney Wootten was forced into only one save for NC State. Carolina had almost taken the lead in the ninth minute but Bridgette Andrzejewski was denied by the cross bar in the best chance for either team in the first half.

The Wolfpack took three shots in the match and Tar Heel goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak made two saves. The shutout was the 10^th solo clean sheet of the year for the Tar Heel keeper, all but two against ACC opponents.

UNC and Duke will play in the ACC final Sunday at 1 p.m. in a nationally televised ESPNU game. The two teams played earlier this year in a designated non-conference match between the squads on August 18 in Cary, N.C. Carolina fell behind early 1-0 in that match but rallied to win 2-1. Joanna Boyles scored on a direct kick in the first half for the equalizer and the Tar Heels won in the first overtime on a Jessie Scarpa header, assisted by Joanna Boyles and Dorian Bailey.

UNC will be playing for its 21^st ACC Tournament championship on Sunday and its first since 2009.