Women’s Soccer Advances To Championship Match On Penalty Kicks

CARY, N.C. – Top-seeded North Carolina advanced to the championship match of the 2022 ACC Women’s Soccer Tournament by defeating No. 5 seed Duke on penalty kicks, 7-6, following a nail-biting scoreless draw on Thursday at Wake Med Soccer Park.

The second-ranked Tar Heels (15-3-1) will face either No. 2 seed Florida State or No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the final Sunday at 12 p.m.

The Tar Heels had a player advantage for 27:52 after Duke’s Maggie Graham was issued a red card with 0:44 seconds remaining in the first half. UNC took nine shots and five corner kicks with the advantage but were stymied by the Blue Devils’ defense that dropped back into a 4-4-1 formation.

The teams went back to even strength in the 73^rd minute when UNC midfielder Talia Dellaperuta was issued her second yellow card and disqualified for the remainder of the match. The two teams played 10-on-10 for the final 17 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime.

Carolina nearly avoided penalty kicks but junior Avery Patterson shot in the 109^th minute clip the inside of the far post and ricochet out.

The game came down to the eighth penalty kick attempt for both sides. UNC’s Emmie Allen denied Mackenzie Pluck’s attempt before seniior Emily Moxley buried her shot to seal the victory.

The Tar Heels outshot Duke (12-4-3), 22-7, including 13-1 in the second half. UNC also took a season-high 12 corner kicks and allowed only three.

 

TAR HEEL NOTES

• North Carolina will play in…