Tar Heels Blank Wolfpack To Head To ACC Championship Game

Friday, November 8

Cary, N.C.

5 p.m.

North Carolina

18-1-1

NC State

10-6-4

NC State

North Carolina

Brianna Pinto and Rachel Jones celebrate Carolina's second goal

Photo by: Rebecca Lawson

November 8, 2019 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Anson Dorrance Post-Game (mp3)UNC-NCSU Box Score (pdf)Play by Play (pdf)Watch Highlights On YouTube

Russo scores twice in win over Wolfpack

By: Dave Lohse

CARY, N.C. - The third-ranked University of North Carolina women's soccer team relied on a pair of goals by junior forward Alessia Russo and two assists from freshman striker Isabel Cox to defeat the 23^rd-ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack 3-0 in the ACC Tournament semifinals Friday night before 1,875 fans at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Carolina advances to the ACC Tournament championship game to meet #1-ranked and undefeated Virginia Sunday at 12 noon at Sahlen's Stadium. The Cavaliers advanced to the championship game with a 2-1 overtime win over fifth-ranked and defending tournament champion Florida State in the earlier semifinal game on Friday. UNC has now advanced to the ACC Tournament final four straight years after not making an appearance in the game between 2010 and 2015.

UNC outshot the Wolfpack 21-3 and dominated the game statistically, including a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks. Claudia Dickey played the whole game in goal for UNC and made one save, recording her fourth solo shutout of the campaign. Jessica Berlin played the whole 90 minutes for NC State and made seven saves. UNC has now recorded 16 shutouts in 20 matches this season.

The Tar Heels jumped on top 1-0 just 7:29 into the match on a nice give-and-go by forwards Alessia Russo and Isabel Cox. Russo sent a ball from the midfield over the top to Cox on the right side. The freshman from Greensboro dribbled deep into the box and sent a centering pass back to Russo who was alone in the penalty area about 15 yards out. Russo one-timed her shot into the lower left corner of the frame past NC State goalkeeper Jessica Berlin for her seventh goal of the season and her first since she tallied twice against Louisville in a 3-0 road win on September 21. UNC outshot the Wolfpack 10-1 in the first half and had three corner kicks.

Carolina put the game away with a pair of goals in the final 16 minutes of the match. Just 59 seconds after Carolina made six substitutions, UNC struck for a 2-0 lead with Cox earning her second assist of the night on the fourth goal of the season by midfielder Rachel Jones. It was the first multi-assist game of Cox's young career. Cox sent a feed from inside the box to the left side where Jones one-timed a finish inside the far post for the 2-0 lead at 74:52 of the match.

The Tar Heels then added a third goal with just 1:36 to play in the match as Russo scored her second goal of the game and her eighth of the season. She pounced on a turnover by a Wolfpack defender at the top of the 18-yard box and sent a laser into the lower right corner of the frame. It was Russo's fourth brace of the season as she also scored twice against UNLV, Wake Forest and Louisville.

GAMES NOTES
• UNC has outscored opponents 52-7 this season.
• Carolina is now 47-2-2 against NC State all-time.
• The Tar Heels improved to 8-0-1 all-time in ACC Tournament meetings against the Wolfpack.
• Carolina is now 25-3-2 all-time in ACC Tournament semifinal matches.
• UNC and Virginia will play in the ACC Tournament final for the first time since 2005.
• Russo's two goals moved her into second place on the team in goals scored this season with eight and in points with 17.
• The two assists by Isabel Cox improved her season total to five. It was the first time she has had multiple assists in a match.