Dellarose’s Late Goal Powers Women’s Soccer To NCAA Third Round

Friday, November 22

Chapel Hill, N.C.

4:30 p.m. ET

North Carolina

#11 Santa Clara

Photo by: NATE SKVORETZ

Dellarose’s Late Goal Powers Women’s Soccer To NCAA Third Round

November 22, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Clare Gagne made a clutch save on a penalty kick and Tessa Dellarose scored the game-winning goal with 22 seconds left on the clock to seal a 1-0 win for No. 2-seed North Carolina over Santa Clara in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament on Friday night at Dorrance Field.

Following the victory, the Tar Heels now advance to the NCAA Tournament Third Round and will take on No. 6-seed Minnesota on Sunday at Dorrance Field. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

UNC, which is ranked eighth nationally, is now 18-5 (7-3 ACC) on the year while No. 11 SCU ends its season at 13-4-4 (6-1-3 WCC).

Carolina is now 29-1 all-time in the NCAA Second Round, with 21 of those matches being shutouts. The Tar Heels have out-scored its opponents 111-12 all-time in the second round.

How It Happened

UNC was on the attack quickly as Olivia Thomas fired off a shot in the sixth minute from a tough angle that was ultimately denied by SCU keeper Marlee Nicolos.
A foul called inside the box awarded Santa Clara a penalty kick in the 34th minute. Mana Hayashi stepped up to the spot and sent the ball to the lower left corner. Gagne was on it all the way, making the stop to deny SCU the go-ahead goal, and Bella Sember successfully cleared the rebound.
Finding their rhythm, the Broncos had another scoring opportunity three minutes later from Kat Jordan after a flurry inside the box. However, the shot was denied by Emerson Elgin with a pivotal goal line clearance.
Both teams went into the break with four shots apiece with SCU having three on target to UNC's one. The Broncos also had a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Carolina kept Nicolos busy at the start of the half, forcing four saves in a 10-minute stretch. UNC's best chance in that sequence was from Sember in the 62nd minute, whose low strike from the top of the 18 was tipped out.
UNC finally broke through with 22 seconds remaining in regulation. Sember put it in a spot for Thomas down the left side whose shot was initially stopped by Nicolos before it became loose inside the box. Faasse got her foot on it off the rebound, but the ball got caught in a flurry. Charging in from midfield, Dellarose tapped it into the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winner.

Inside the Box Score

Dellarose scored her fourth goal on the season and her third game-winner. She now ranks fourth on the team with 14 points.
Faasse picked up her second assist of the year. She extended her team lead to 38 points.
Carolina finished the match out-shooting Santa Clara 19-5, including 15-1 during the second half.
UNC's defense held SCU, which had been averaging 17.2 shots per game and 7.7 shots on goal per game, to only five and three, respectively.
This was only the third time this season the Broncos had been shut out. UNC now has 13 shutouts on the year, with 10 credited to Gagne.
Including her PK save, Gagne made a pair of stops between the posts.
Eight Tar Heels in Trinity Armstrong, Maddie Dahlien, Dellarose, Elgin, Faasse, Bella Gaetino, Gagne and Linda Ullmark logged a full 90 minutes.

NCAA Tournament Tidbits

North Carolina extended its streak as the only team to appear in all 43 NCAA Tournaments.
The Tar Heels now have an all-time record of 149-18-5 in the NCAA Tournament.
Carolina has won 21 of 42 NCAA titles, plus the 1981 AIAW title for 22 national championships.
Carolina has appeared in 31 College Cups, including four of the last six. No other team has been in more than 14.
UNC has advanced to the national title game 27 times, including three of the last six, and has finished as the national runner-up on six occasions.
The Tar Heels have been a No. 2 seed 12 times before, winning five NCAA crowns as a second seed, including its last title in 2012.

Up Next
The Tar Heels, who earned a No. 2 seed, have a quick turnaround as they will now face sixth-seeded Minnesota in the NCAA Third Round on Sunday, Nov. 24, in Chapel Hill with a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals on the line.

Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET at Dorrance Field and the match will air on ESPN+ with Brianna Pinto and Brian Waer on call. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.