While seeing a North Carolina team atop the Division I soccer championship stand may not be unusual, it is unusual for the people accepting the hardware to be men and not women.

North Carolina's women's team has been the standard by which all other women's soccer teams are judged, winning 16 championships in 20 years. But an odd thing happened in 2001 -- North Carolina's women lost, while the Tar Heel men beat the team many believe to be the closest thing to a dynasty on the men's side -- Indiana.

The Tar Heels won their first national title with a 2-0 triumph over five-time national champion Indiana at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, December 16.

The victory came in North Carolina's first appearance in the championship game and it represented sweet revenge for last year's Tar Heel team, which was ranked No. 1 before losing to the Hoosiers in the quarterfinals.

North Carolina's victory began early, as Ryan Kneipper's header in the 12th minute found the net. Senior sweeper Danny Jackson scored the only other goal with a penalty kick in the 75th minute.

"It is the responsibility of a senior and a captain to take the penalty kick. I was confident and I put it away," said Jackson.

North Carolina goalkeeper Michael Ueltschey made two saves, marking his third shutout in five tournament matches.

It also was the first time in North Carolina's five tournament games that the Tar Heels had to put in a short day's work. North Carolina's other four victories came in overtime, including a four-overtime win against Stanford in the semifinals.

Indiana managed just one shot during the second half -- in the 84th minute -- against a tight North Carolina back line of senior co-captains Jackson and Chris Leitch.

"They are deserving champions," Indiana head coach Jerry Yeagley said of the Tar Heels. "It was just one of those days -- a combination of excellent defending on North Carolina's part and a touch off offensively on our part."

Kneipper was named the tournament's most outstanding offensive player, while teammate David Stokes was recognized as the most outstanding defensive player. Others on the all-tournament team were North Carolina's Jackson and Matt Crawford, Indiana's Pat Noonan and Mike Ambersley, Matt Moses and Todd Dunivant from Stanford, and Jeff Matteo and Shalrie Joseph from St. John's (New York).

Semifinals

Second half: SJ -- Jeff Matteo (unassisted) 49:03; I -- Mike Ambersley (Pat Noonan and Phil Presser) 65:53.

Overtime: I -- Vijay Dias (Mike Ambersley) 112:50.

Shots: St. John's (N.Y.) 11, Indiana 16. Goalkeeper saves: St. John's (N.Y.) (Guy Hertz) 2; Indiana (Colin Rogers) 2. Corner kicks: St. John's (N.Y.) 2, Indiana 3.

First half: S -- Todd Dunivant (Matt Moses) 24:52.

Second half: S -- Roger Levesque (Matt Moses) 76:38; NC -- David Testo (unassisted) 80:31; NC -- Matt Crawford (unassisted) 81:35.

Overtime: NC -- Mike Gail (Michael Ueltschey) 135:59.

Shots: North Carolina 21, Stanford 30; Goalkeeper saves: North Carolina (Michael Ueltschey) 6; Stanford (Andrew Terris) 5. Corner kicks: North Carolina 5, Stanford 3.

Championship

First half: NC -- Ryan Kneipper (Matt Crawford and Grant Porter) 11:37.

Second half: NC -- Danny Jackson (penalty kick) 74:50.

Shots: North Carolina 9, Indiana 6. Goalkeeper saves: North Carolina (Michael Ueltschey) 2; Indiana (Colin Rogers) 2. Corner kicks: North Carolina 3, Indiana 6.