On To Cary! Women’s Soccer Advances To 32nd NCAA College Cup

Friday, November 29

Chapel Hill, N.C.

6 p.m. ET

North Carolina

20-5-0, 7-3-0

#22 Penn State

15-7-3, 5-4-2

Penn St.

North Carolina

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

On To Cary! Women’s Soccer Advances To 32nd NCAA College Cup

November 29, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Back to the College Cup!

No. 2-seed North Carolina defeated No. 4-seed Penn State, 2-1, in overtime on Friday night at Dorrance Field in the quarterfinals of the 2024 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament, punching a ticket to the national semifinal. Kate Faasse scored the game-winning golden goal in the 98th minute from a header off a corner feed by Tessa Dellarose.

The Tar Heels now advance to their 32nd College Cup in program history, and fifth in the last seven years. No other program has more than 14 College Cup appearances.

Under the direction of interim head coach Damon Nahas, the win propelled Carolina to its 30th 20+-win season in school history. It marks the fifth 20+ win campaign in the past 15 seasons, the last which came in 2022.

The Tar Heels, who are ranked eighth nationally, are now 20-5 (7-3 ACC) on the season. The 22nd-ranked Nittany Lions concluded their 2024 campaign at 15-7-3 (5-4-2 Big Ten).

How It Happened

A lapse in transition saw Penn State get on the board first after Katie Scott's shot went in the lower left corner of the far post, giving the Nittany Lions an early 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
Bella Gaetino had a chance to level it five minutes later, but her powerful strike from distance was punched out by PSU keeper Mackenzie Gress.
The visitors found the back of the net again in the 34th minute. However, a lengthy VAR review determined it was offside, keeping UNC within one.
Another brilliant strike from roughly 20 yards through traffic was from Dellarose a few moments later, whose shot ultimately hit the right post.
Despite trailing by a goal after 45 minutes, UNC out-shot PSU 18-6 in the opening frame while both sides had four shots on target. The hosts also carried a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
Carolina found the equalizer just four minutes into the second half. Aria Nagai sent a short pass to Gaetino on the right side who uncorked a left-footed rocket from roughly 25 yards out that bent inside the far post to level the score at 1-1.
Continuing to dominate possession, Linda Ullmark delivered a perfectly-placed cross to Faasse in the 84th minute in search of the go-ahead goal, but Faasse's header sailed just wide of the left post.
The Tar Heels were out-shooting the Nittany Lions 27-8 at the end of regulation but were unable to convert. They also held a slight 3-2 lead in corner kicks heading into overtime.
The golden goal came with 2:48 remaining on the clock in the first overtime period when Dellarose's corner feed connected with Faasse inside the six-yard box. This time, her header landed into the back of the net for the game-winner.

Inside the Box Score

Faasse now has a nation-leading 19 goals on the year. Her 41 points ranks fourth in the NCAA and first in the ACC.
Faasse also netted her seventh game-winning goal, which leads the ACC and ranks second in the country.
Gaetino scored her fifth goal of the year. The freshman has 11 points on the year.
Dellarose recorded her seventh assist this season. The co-captain is tied for first on the team in assists and ranks fifth with 15 points.
Nagai, who picked up her third assist of the season, now has nine points.
The Tar Heels finished out-shooting the Nittany Lions 31-8, including 7-4 on frame. They also ended with four corner kicks to PSU's two.
Carolina's stalwart defense was on full display, as Penn State entered the contest averaging 14.5 shots per game and 7.0 shots on goal per game.
Olivia Thomas had a game-high eight shots followed by Faasse with six. Faasse, Gaetino and Ullmark all had two shots on goal.
Clare Gagne finished with three saves between the posts. Gress had four.
Nine players logged a full match: Trinity Armstrong, Maddie Dahlien, Dellarose, Emerson Elgin, Faasse, Gaetino, Gagne, Nagai and Ullmark.
It was UNC's first overtime win since Oct. 21. 2021, when Avery Patterson scored the golden goal in double overtime for a 2-1 victory over Notre Dame.

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 151-18-5 in the NCAA Tournament. No other school has more than 83.
UNC has won 21 of 42 NCAA titles, plus the 1981 AIAW title for 22 national championships.
Carolina has now earned 32 College Cup berths, including five of the last seven. 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.
Carolina is now 19-5-2 all-time in the NCAA Third Round.

Up Next
For the 32nd time in the 43-year history of the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels will play in the College Cup held in nearby Cary at WakeMed Soccer Park. Tickets are available for purchase here.

No. 2-seed Carolina will take on the winner of No. 1-seed Duke/No. 7-seed Virginia Tech in the semifinals on Friday, Dec. 6. Kickoff will either be at 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. ET and will broadcast nationally on ESPNU.

The Tar Heels are seeking their 23rd national championship, and 22nd NCAA title, in program history. UNC's last championship crown came in 2012; its last College Cup berth was in 2022 when the team was the national runner-up.

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