UNC Holds Off FSU To Reach Women's College Cup Final

Friday, December 2

Cary, N.C.

6 p.m.

North Carolina

Florida State

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

December 2, 2022 | Women's Soccer

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By: Jody Jones

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Tori Hansen and Julia Dorsey scored seven minutes apart in the second half and North Carolina held off No. 1 overall seed Florida State 3-2 on Friday night in the semifinals of the NCAA Division I women's soccer championship.

North Carolina (20-4-1), making its 31st College Cup appearance, is searching for its first title since 2012 when they were also a No. 2 seed. The Tar Heels have won 21 of the previous 40 national championships.

North Carolina took a 3-0 lead in the 66th minute when Dorsey headed home Emily Moxley's free kick, but Onyi Echegini scored less than a minute later for her team-leading 11th goal of the season for Florida State.

The defending champions pulled within 3-2 in the 76th when Heather Payne headed Echegini's cross through the legs of goalkeeper Emmie Allen.

Allen, a freshman, made a season-high nine saves to help North Carolina avenge a 2-1 loss to Florida State on Nov. 6 in the ACC championship game.

Aleigh Gambone scored her second goal of the season, first since Aug. 18, for North Carolina to open the scoring in the 42nd. Maddie Dahlien sent a deflected ball across the goal and a failed clearance attempt fell to the feet of Gambone at the penalty spot for a calm finish.

Hansen scored on a penalty kick in the 59th minute following a handball by Heather Gilchrist in the box. Hansen, the North Carolina captain, is 5 for 5 from the penalty spot this season and has eight goals.

Cristina Roque, the ACC goalkeeper of the year, made three saves for Florida State (17-3-3).

UNC NOTES

North Carolina improved to 27-4 all-time in national semifinal games and 8-2 in College Cup games played at Wake Med Soccer Park.
The Tar Heels improved to 31-12-5 all-time against Florida State and defeated the Seminoles for the first time in the NCAA Tournament (1-2). UNC snapped a three-game losing streak to FSU at Wake Med Soccer Park.
Senior defender Julia Dorsey scored her first goal of the season and second of her career. Her previous goal was the game-winner against Boston College last season as was her goal tonight.
Senior Tori Hansen converted her fifth consecutive penalty kick of the season.
Senior Aleigh Gambone scored her second goal of the season and first since the season-opener against Tennessee.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Emmie Allen made a career-high nine saves.
Senior Emily Moxley recorded her eighth seventh assist of the season, setting a new career-high.
The Tar Heels had seven players (Emerson Elgin, Julia Dorsey, Emily Moxley, Avery Patterson, Libby Moore, Tori Hansen, Emmie Allen) play the full 90 minutes for the second consecutive game. It was Hansen's 21st FT game of the year, Moxley's 15th and Dorsey's ninth.