Women's Soccer Eliminated from ACC Tournament

Wednesday, November 1

Cary, N.C.

1:00 PM

NC State

9-9-2,ACC 3-7

No. 1 North Carolina (ACC Tournament)

19-1-0,ACC 10-0-0

NC State

North Carolina

11/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Cary, N.C. In a hard fought match, the NC State women’s soccer team (9-9-2, 3-7 ACC) was eliminated from the ACC Tournament in a 3-0 loss to No. 1 North Carolina (19-1, 10-0 ACC) at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Whitney Engen scored two of the Tar Heel’s goals off of headers, and Ali Hawkins posted the other goal for Carolina. Senior goalkeeper Megan Connors had a season high 12 saves in the match, while there was also one team save. UNC’s goalie, Anna Rodenbough had two saves.

“Those corner kicks really hurt us,” said NC State head coach Laura Kerrigan. “It was a tough game; we fought hard, and tried to keep it a low scoring game, but Carolina is a really good team.”

The two ACC rivals battled back and forth during the first half, but Carolina was able to outshoot the Wolfpack 16-2. Seven minutes into the match, UNC’s Nikki Washington dribbled down the field alongside senior Michelle Massey, and took a shot from the right of the net. Connors dove to block the ball, and the shot ended up hitting the side of the net. Five minutes later, the Pack had its best opportunity to score when junior Jessica O’Rourke headed the ball off of a free kick from freshman Meredith Parrilla, but the ball went over the crossbar, leaving the game scoreless.

UNC had two shots hit the post one after the other with about ten minutes left in the half. Engen took a shot in the back, and it hit the post, and Connors batted the ball away and out of bounds. The Tar Heels then took a corner kick and Kristi Eveland tried to knock in the ball in the bottom right corner, but the ball hit the post again and bounced away from the net.

At the 36:37 mark, Casey Nogueira took a corner kick for UNC, which lead to Engen heading the ball past Connors to put Carolina on the board first. With less than 30 seconds left in the half, Yael Averbuch took a shot for the Tar Heels, but Connors punched the ball over the crossbar and behind the net. The Tar Heels gained a 2-0 lead going into the half when Nogueira and Engen repeated their first goal with six seconds left with a header by Engen off of the corner kick.

The Pack started the second half with freshman Katie Ruiz taking a free kick about four minutes in. She tapped the ball to Carol Tognetti who shot the ball over the Carolina defenders’ heads, and Rodenbough saved the ball from entering the net. Averbuch responded for the Tar Heels eight minutes later with a strong shot from 15 yards out, but Connors made the save. A minute later Washington attempted to give Carolina another goal with a shot from the right side of the net, but the ball went a couple feet too far to the left. About halfway through the second half, Engen tried to score again after receiving the ball from another Tar Heel, but Connors did not let the ball go between the posts. A couple minutes later Heather O’Reilly took a shot to the top middle of the net, but Connors was able to punch the ball out.

With sixteen minutes left, freshman Briana Cunningham passed the ball to sophomore Lindsay Vera who took a shot that was blocked by a UNC defender. The Pack then had a scoring opportunity with a corner kick, but Cunningham’s header went a few feet away from the net. In the 85^th minute, Hawkins scored the Tar Heel’s third goal off of a cross from Hawkins, who received the ball on a throw in from Tobin Heath.

The NCAA tournament selections will be announced on Monday, November 6^th on ESPNEWS.