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The NCAA News -- December 20, 1999

Record crowd sees Tar Heels capture Women's College Cup

The Tar Heels of North Carolina regained the throne of the Division I Women's Soccer Championship after a one-year hiatus, defeating Notre Dame, 2-0, in the final match of the Women's College Cup December 5 at San Jose State. The victory gave the Tar Heels their 15th piece of championship hardware.

Meredith Florance broke a scoreless tie in the 11th minute of second half as she avoided Notre Dame defender Kelly Lindsey and blasted the ball into the goal mouth from the left wing.

The score came seven minutes after Florance was denied from about 10 yards out as Notre Dame midfielder Nancy Mikacenic cleared the ball before Florance could shoot.

"I knew that chances weren't going to come that often, and we have to finish the ones we got," Florance said. "After that first one, I started to refocus, and I knew the next chance I got I would have to stick it."

North Carolina's Beth Sheppard added an insurance goal in the 80th minute of play off a combined assist from Raven McDonald and Susan Bush.

North Carolina head coach Anson Dorrance was pleased with his squad's victory.

"We are ecstatic to have beaten a gritty and classy Notre Dame team," he said. "It's particularly satisfying in light of how challenging the regular season was, and I am absolutely thrilled to be national champions."

"They were great today and very deserving of the win -- hats off to them," Notre Dame head coach Randy Waldrum said of the Tar Heels' effort. "I am very proud of our kids, too, what they have accomplished this year, especially the run that we have had at the end of the season."

The Fighting Irish, who were unbeaten in 10 straight coming into the championship clash, finished the year with a 21-4-1 record. The champion Tar Heels ended their season with a 24-2-0 slate.

The 1999 Women's College Cup broke several attendance records. The total attendance of 14,006 for the semifinals bested last year's tournament record of 10,583 set during the championship game, and the 1999 final match attendance was even better at 14,410. The combined attendance of 28,416 surpassed the previous record for the Women's College Cup that was set in Greensboro, North Carolina, last year.

"The crowd was awesome," said North Carolina senior Lorrie Fair, who was named the tournament's most outstanding defensive player. "To have the fans fill Spartan Stadium for a national championship game is an exciting feeling."

In all, North Carolina had six players named to the all-tournament team. In addition to Fair, Bush was named the tournament's most outstanding offensive player for posting three assists during the Women's College Cup. Florance, Kim Patrick, Anne Remy and Jena Kluegel also were named to the squad.

Other all-tournament team members were Notre Dame's Jen Grubb, Jenny Streiffer and LaKeysia Beene, who recorded 11 saves for the weekend; Santa Clara's Nikki Serlenga and Danielle Slaton; and Christi Welch from Penn State.

SEMIFINALS

Penn St. -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

North Carolina -- 1 -- 1 -- 2

First half: NC -- Anne Remy (Susan Bush, Kim Patrick), 32:35.

Second half: NC -- Patrick (Jenni Branam), 88:54.

Shots: Penn St. 8, North Carolina 24. Goalkeeper saves: Penn St. (Emily Oleksiuk) 8, North Carolina (Branam) 4. Corner kicks: Penn St. 0, North Carolina 11. Fouls: Penn St. 6, North Carolina 10. Yellow cards: North Carolina -- Danielle Borgman. Attendance: 14,006.

Notre Dame -- 0 -- 1 -- 1

Santa Clara -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Second half: ND -- Ali Lovelace (Nancy Mikacenic), 74:20.

Shots: Notre Dame 3, Santa Clara 17. Goalkeeper saves: Notre Dame (LaKeysia Beene) 7, Santa Clara (Crystal Gordon) 1. Corner kicks: Notre Dame 1, Santa Clara 7. Fouls: Notre Dame 16, Santa Clara 12. Yellow cards: Notre Dame -- Kelly Lindsey; Santa Clara -- Nikki Serlenga. Attendance: 14,006.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Notre Dame -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

North Carolina -- 0 -- 2 -- 2

Second half: NC -- Meredith Florance (Kim Patrick, Susan Bush), 55:11; NC -- Beth Sheppard (Raven McDonald, Susan Bush), 79:06.

Shots: Notre Dame 3, North Carolina 17. Goalkeeper saves: Notre Dame (LaKeysia Beene) 4, North Carolina (Jenni Branam) 2. Corner kicks: Notre Dame 0, North Carolina 6. Fouls: Notre Dame 14, North Carolina 11. Yellow cards: Notre Dame -- Jenny Streiffer. Attendance: 14,410.