The NCAA News - News Features

I women's soccer titans clash; North Carolina reclaims title from Notre Dame

In what has become a storied rivalry in women's soccer, North Carolina outlasted defending champion Notre Dame, 1-0, in overtime to win its 13th Division I Women's Soccer Championship December 8 at Santa Clara.

The Tar Heels regained the crown they lost last year when Notre Dame slipped past them in the championship semifinals on an own goal. The top-ranked Fighting Irish also had beaten the second-ranked Tar Heels in a regular-season match earlier this year.

In the title game, North Carolina dominated the tempo for much of the contest but was unable to break through Notre Dame's defensive wall until Debbie Keller headed a shot into the net with just over five minutes gone in the second overtime period.

Moments earlier, North Carolina's Tiffany Roberts had delivered an entry lob to the far post, where Rakel Karvelsson managed to head it high toward leaping Notre Dame goalkeeper Jen Renola. Renola got a hand on the ball but tipped it to the waiting Keller, who headed it into the empty net.

Notre Dame fought furiously to tie, but Tar Heels defenders Staci Wilson and Nel Fettig captained a stingy defense that kept the Fighting Irish scoreless.

North Carolina had won nine consecutive titles before last year, including a 5-0 win over Notre Dame in the 1994 title match. The Tar Heels now are 46-2 in 15 championship appearances. The win also was North Carolina's 25th of the season, against the one loss to Notre Dame. The win total ties a school record.

Notre Dame, which finished 24-2, was attempting to become the first team to defeat the Tar Heels three times.

Both teams escaped trouble in the semifinals. Notre Dame had to rally from a 2-0 half-time deficit to edge Portland, 3-2, in a rematch of last year's title game. Portland's Regina Holan scored twice in the initial frame, but Notre Dame's Shannon Boxx and Amy VanLaecke tallied early in the second half to knot the score. Monica Gerardo scored on a put-back in the 61st minute for the game-winner.

"I don't think I have ever been as emotional with my team as I was at half time," Notre Dame coach Chris Petrucelli said after the semifinal. "I told them our seniors are a great group of kids. I asked the underclassmen if they wanted it to end like that. They stepped it up and gave the seniors a chance to play another game."

North Carolina also went on a second-half offensive, although it was the Tar Heels who scored twice in a four-minute span and then held off a Santa Clara rally for a 2-1 triumph over the host Broncos.

"I saw (Santa Clara coach) Jerry (Smith) outside and told him that the last six minutes were the longest of my life," Tar Heels coach Anson Dorrance said following the game. "They sustained a lot of pressure against us."

"It was a great day for women's soccer," Smith said. "We had a record-setting crowd and saw two very good soccer matches. I'm very proud of our kids. I think we played about as well as we can play."

Santa Clara finished its season at 18-4-2 while Portland, which was making its third straight trip to the semifinals, completed a 19-1-2 campaign.

The all-tournament team consisted of Keller, Fettig, Robin Confer, Lorrie Fair, Cindy Parlow and Laurie Schwoy of North Carolina; Renola, Jen Grubb and Jenny Streiffer of Notre Dame; Portland's Holan and Justi Baumgardt; and Jennifer Lalor and Mandy Clemens of Santa Clara. Keller was named the tournament's most outstanding offensive player, while Fettig earned most outstanding defensive honors.

Both the semifinals and final at Santa Clara's Buck Shaw Stadium drew 8,800 fans, an attendance record for the championship.

SEMIFINALS

Santa Clara 0 1 -- 1

North Caro. 0 2 -- 2

Second half: NC -- Cindy Parlow (Nel Fettig), 73:22; NC -- Laurie Schwoy (Fettig), 77:54; SC -- Jennifer Lalor (unassisted), 83:50.

Shots: Santa Clara 13, North Caro. 14. Goalkeeper saves: Santa Clara (Christina Sanchez) 5, North Caro. (Siri Mullinix) 5. Corner kicks: Santa Clara 7, North Caro. 4. Fouls: Santa Clara 15, North Caro. 17. Attendance: 8,800.

Portland 2 0 -- 2

Notre Dame 0 3 -- 3

First half: P -- Regina Holan (Justi Baumgardt), 1:40; P -- Holan (Tara Koleski), 29:42.

Second half: ND -- Shannon Boxx (Holly Manthei), 46:02; ND -- Amy VanLaecke (unassisted), 54:44; ND -- Monica Gerardo (Jen Grubb), 60:33.

Shots: Portland 10, Notre Dame 12. Goalkeeper saves: Portland (Cheryl Loveless) 3, Notre Dame (Jen Renola) 1. Corner kicks: Portland 3, Notre Dame 8. Fouls: Portland 18, Notre Dame 7. Attendance: 8,800.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Notre Dame 0 0 0 0 -- 0

North Caro. 0 0 0 1 -- 1

Overtime: NC -- Debbie Keller (Rakel Karvelsson, Tiffany Roberts), 110:56.

Shots: Notre Dame 7, North Caro. 18. Goalkeeper saves: Notre Dame (Jen Renola) 7, North Caro. (Siri Mullinix) 3. Corner kicks: Notre Dame 1, North Caro. 10. Fouls: Notre Dame 16, North Caro. 21. Attendance: 8,800.