The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- December 21, 1998

Florida fells 14-time champion Tar Heels in women's soccer

Florida took down 14-time title-holder North Carolina with a 1-0 victory to earn the Division I Women's Soccer Championship December 6 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The second-seeded Gators defeated the top-seeded Tar Heels in front of a tournament-record crowd of 10,583. Florida's Danielle Fotopoulos, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer in women's soccer, posted the game-winning goal in the sixth minute of play. Her left-footed direct kick from the right side of the box cleared a wall of North Carolina defenders and hit the crossbar before dropping over the goal line to the left side of the goal.

"The ball she struck was hit about as hard as you can hit a soccer ball," said Anson Dorrance, head coach of the Tar Heels.

"My adrenaline was just pumping," Fotopoulos said afterward. "I stared at the ball and struck it as hard as I could, and it went right in."

Gators coach Becky Burleigh, who began the Florida program just four years ago, became the first woman to coach a women's soccer team to the title.

"I can't believe it," she said. "It still hasn't sunk in. It's just a storybook ending for the season and for the seniors."

In the semifinals, Florida (25-1) got past undefeated Santa Clara, which came into the match with an NCAA-record 16 consecutive shutouts. Florida erased that when Fotopoulos took a feed from Melissa Pini and fired into the goal. Broncos goalkeeper Crystal Gordon saved the shot, but the ball came free, and Florida's Sarah Yohe gathered the rebound and scored the only goal of the game. The goal was only the fourth of the year against Santa Clara.

North Carolina (25-1) took Portland into a fourth overtime in the other semifinal before ending the scoreless match with only 22 seconds to play.

Both semifinals and the final all were decided by 1-0 scores.

Florida goalkeeper Meredith Flaherty was named the tournament's most outstanding defensive player, while Fotopoulos secured most outstanding offensive honors. Teammates Yohe, Keisha Bell and Heather Mitts also were named to the all-tournament team. North Carolina placed Meredith Florance, Schwoy, Lorrie Fair, Cindy Parlow and Tiffany Roberts. Santa Clara's Nikki Serlenga and Portland's Michelle French and Angela Harrison also were selected.

SEMIFINALS

Santa Clara -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Florida -- 1 -- 0 -- 1

First half: F -- Sarah Yohe (Danielle Fotopoulos) 25:18.

Shots: Santa Clara 16, Florida 13. Goalkeeper saves: Santa Clara (Crystal Gordon) 4, Florida (Meredith Flaherty) 7. Corner kicks: Santa Clara 4, Florida 0. Fouls: Santa Clara 17, Florida 21. Attendance: 9,445.

Portland -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

North Carolina -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 1 -- 1

Overtime: NC -- Meredith Florance (Laurie Schwoy, Cindy Parlow) 149:38.

Shots: Portland 2, North Carolina 28. Goalkeeper saves: Portland (Angela Harrison) 10, North Carolina (Siri Mullinix) 0. Corner kicks: Portland 4, North Carolina 19. Fouls: Portland 18, North Carolina 16. Attendance: 9,445.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Florida -- 1 -- 0 -- 1

North Carolina -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

First half: F -- Danielle Fotopoulos (unassisted) 5:23.

Shots: Florida 6, North Carolina 21. Goalkeeper saves: Florida (Meredith Flaherty) 8, North Carolina (Siri Mullinix) 3. Corner kicks: Florida 2, North Carolina 9. Fouls: Florida 31, North Carolina 4. Attendance: 10,583.