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North Carolina Claim NCAA Women's Title
The Tar Heels won a record 19th championship over Notre Dame thanks to two goals by junior sensation Casey Nogueira.
Dec 7, 2008 4:22:55 PM
North Carolina claimed a historic 19th NCAA women's soccer championship off a Casey Nogueira brace, defeating Norte Dame, 2-1.
The Fighting Irish actually jumped out to an early lead. Just 17 seconds into the match, Kerry Hanks got in behind the defense to put Notre Dame up in the match.
The tough defense of Norte Dame shut out the Tar Heels all through the first half, but veteran coach Anson Dorrance stayed calm, declaring during the halftime interview that his players were performing well. They just needed to demand the ball and the winning shot.
North Carolina has produced some of the greatest players in the women's game, most notably soccer great Mia Hamm.
No came up big for Carolina in the final more than Nogueira, who stepped up and walloped a free kick that Jessica MacDonald had won just on the arc. The ball rocketed into the side netting.
Notre Dame had another excellent chance to take the lead when Hanks turned playmaker, crossing the ball only to see Rosen blaze it over the bar from a short distance away.
Late in the second half, Nogueira again made the difference for North Carolina. Her attemped cross hit a defende just slightly, putting a deceptive rotation on the ball that fooled Notre Dame keeper Lysander as it bent into the far corner of the goal.
Junior Nogueira was also a key player in 2006, when North Carolina last claimed the championship, over Notre Dame as well. She scored the winning goal in that match, just as she did in this one.
"I was just hoping to cross the ball," Nogueira acknowledged. "I got a lucky deflection and it went in over the goalkeeper's head."
She credited her team's competitive attitude as the difference versus Notre Dame. The Irish had beaten North Carolina during the regular season, but couldn't manage the same feat in the championship final.
"We never gave up, and it paid off," Nogueira said.
The Fighting Irish actually jumped out to an early lead. Just 17 seconds into the match, Kerry Hanks got in behind the defense to put Notre Dame up in the match.
The tough defense of Norte Dame shut out the Tar Heels all through the first half, but veteran coach Anson Dorrance stayed calm, declaring during the halftime interview that his players were performing well. They just needed to demand the ball and the winning shot.
North Carolina has produced some of the greatest players in the women's game, most notably soccer great Mia Hamm.
No came up big for Carolina in the final more than Nogueira, who stepped up and walloped a free kick that Jessica MacDonald had won just on the arc. The ball rocketed into the side netting.
Notre Dame had another excellent chance to take the lead when Hanks turned playmaker, crossing the ball only to see Rosen blaze it over the bar from a short distance away.
Late in the second half, Nogueira again made the difference for North Carolina. Her attemped cross hit a defende just slightly, putting a deceptive rotation on the ball that fooled Notre Dame keeper Lysander as it bent into the far corner of the goal.
Junior Nogueira was also a key player in 2006, when North Carolina last claimed the championship, over Notre Dame as well. She scored the winning goal in that match, just as she did in this one.
"I was just hoping to cross the ball," Nogueira acknowledged. "I got a lucky deflection and it went in over the goalkeeper's head."
She credited her team's competitive attitude as the difference versus Notre Dame. The Irish had beaten North Carolina during the regular season, but couldn't manage the same feat in the championship final.
"We never gave up, and it paid off," Nogueira said.
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