Tar Heels Battle To Finish But Fall In NCAA Championship Game

Sunday, December 2

Cary, N.C. (WakeMed Soccer Park)

1:00 PM

North Carolina

21-4-2

Florida State

20-4-3

Florida State

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

December 2, 2018 | Women's Soccer

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UNC finishes season with splendid 21-4-2 record

By: Dave Lohse

CARY, N.C. - The University of North Carolina's quest for a 23^rd national collegiate title in women's soccer fell just short Sunday as the Tar Heels fell to fifth-ranked Florida State 1-0 in the national championship game. Before a crowd of 12,512 fans at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, the third-ranked Tar Heels saw their season end with a record of 21-4-2 while Florida State won its second NCAA championship and finished 20-4-3.

The only goal of the game came at the 59:53 as Dallas Dorosy scored her seventh goal of the season assisted by Deyna Castellanos. Castellanos served a ball from the right side that Dorosy slid onto with her shot deflecting off UNC defender Lotte Wubben-Moy and sneaking inside the right post. UNC goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak appeared to have Dorosy's shot covered as she went to her right to smother it. But the deflection sent the ball into the right side instead and that ended up being the only goal of the game.

Both teams took eight shots in the game with FSU outshooting UNC 6-2 in the first half and the Tar Heels outshooting the Seminoles 6-2 in the second half. UNC finished with five corner kicks while the Seminoles had one corner kick.

Samantha Leshnak made two saves for Carolina and Caroline Jeffers had two saves for the Seminoles. UNC's shots on goal came 56 seconds into the game by Alex Kimball and at the 71:59 mark by Madison Schultz. Perhaps Carolina's best chance to score came at 35:50 when a header by Rachael Dorwart off a Lotte Wubben-Moy corner kick went just wide of the left post.

After Dorosy's goal, UNC did not allow another shot in the game but the Florida State defense buckled down, allowing UNC only four shots over the final 30:07 and not conceding a tying goal.

Game Notes:

• Sunday's match marked the final game for 10 Tar Heel seniors, including starters Alex Kimball, Dorian Bailey, Julia Ashley and Samantha Leshnak. UNC returns 20 letter winners in 2019 and will add an 11-member recruiting class that will be announced at a later date.
• Dorian Bailey, Julia Ashley and sophomore defender Emily Fox were named to the All-Tournament Team at the College Cup.
• The loss was only the 14^th in NCAA Tournament history for the Tar Heels who are now 131-14-4 in the event. The Tar Heels are now 21-4 in NCAA Tournament championship games. The other losses were to George Mason in 1985, Florida in 1998 and Santa Clara in 2001.
• UNC is now 7-1 all-time in NCAA College Cup games played at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer park.
• The game marked the 12^th successive game UNC has played in Cary. The Tar Heels will move into their spectacular new UNC Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium next August.
• Anson Dorrance will begin the 2019 campaign with an all-time women's soccer coaching record of 847-74-40. The 2018 season marked his 40^th as head coach.
• UNC senior defender Julia Ashley finished the season as UNC's leading scorer with 22 points. She is the first defender in history to lead the Tar Heels in scoring.
• UNC's 21 wins were the most since Carolina finished 23-3-1 in 2009.
• In 961 games in its history, the Tar Heels have been shut out just 55 times.