Tar Heels Set To Battle Florida State For ACC Championship

CARY, N.C. — Top-seeded North Carolina will look to win its 23rd Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title and first since 2019 Sunday afternoon as it takes on No. 2 seed Florida State in the ACC Tournament championship match at noon at Wake Med Soccer Park.

The game will be televised on ESPNU.

Sunday’s match will be third meeting between UNC and FSU in the championship game in the last five years with the Seminoles winning each of the previous two match-ups (2018, 2020). It’s the third time that No. 1 UNC has faced No. 2 Florida State for the tournament title with Carolina winning the two previous meetings (2003, 2006).  

It’ll be the ninth time overall the Tar Heels and Seminoles have played in the finals with Carolina claiming five titles in the previous eight meeting against FSU.

Carolina advanced to the championship match by virtue of defeating fifth-seeded Duke in a penalty kick shootout in Thursday’s semifinal. The teams played to a scoreless draw before entering the the shootout which game down to the eighth penalty kick attempt for both sides. UNC’s Emmie Allen denied Mackenzie Pluck’s attempt before senior Emily Moxley buried her shot to seal the victory.

Earlier this season in Tallahassee, Fla., UNC posted a 2-1 come-from-behind win over FSU as redshirt freshman Ally Sentnor scored the game-winning goal in the 58th minute.

With two defenders on her, Sentnor raced toward the left side of the penalty area and rifled a left-footed shot into the back of the net. UNC senior Tori Hansen tied the match in 32nd minute on a penalty kick after the Seminoles were whistled for a hand ball on a shot inside the box by Sentnor.

UNC redshirt freshman goalkeeper Emmie Allen recorded three saves after allowing the initial goal. FSU goalie Cristinia Roque made six saves.

The Seminoles became the first, and only team to out-shoot the Tar Heels this season, 17-12, but Carolina had twice as many shots on goal as Florida State, 8-4.