CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – For the sixth straight year, the Atlantic Coast Conference will have multiple teams in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament, as Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and Pitt punched their tickets on Sunday. Of the 16 teams that have advanced to the Elite Eight the last two seasons, nine have been from the ACC.
The four ACC teams in this year’s quarterfinals are the most among all conferences, as the league has had the most or tied for the most Elite Eight teams in each of the last four seasons. In that span, the ACC has sent 16 teams to the Elite Eight, as the next closest conference has sent just five.
No. 3 North Carolina 1, No. 2 Texas Tech 0
After a back-and-forth scoreless 71 minutes, the breakthrough came in the 72nd minute when North Carolina junior Bella Sember sent a left-footed strike into the back of the net for the eventual game winner. For Sember, the goal was her third of the season and second of the NCAA Tournament.
The Tar Heels outshot the hosts 16-7 for the match, while the Carolina defense held Texas Tech without a shot on goal. UNC snapped a 14-match home game win streak for the Red Raiders, who had not lost at John Walker Soccer Complex since Sept. 25, 2022.
The Heels look to continue their winning ways on the road when they head to BYU for their quarterfinal matchup. The Cougars defeated third-seeded Michigan State 3-1 in their third-round contest.
No. 1 Clemson 1, No. 4 Georgia 1 (Clemson advances 5-3 on penalty kicks)
After Georgia scored in the 84th minute to break a scoreless drought, Megan Bornkamp provided the Clemson equalizer in the 88th minute and sent the match into extra time. Following a scoreless extra time, the Tigers finished a perfect 5-for-5 in the penalty-kick shootout capped off by the game-winning penalty off the foot of Sami Meredith. It was the first penalty kick attempt by the graduate student this season.
The 2023 ACC Goalkeeper of the Year Halle Mackiewicz posted a pair of saves during regulation and in extra time but ended her day with a key stop in the fourth round of the shootout and helped lead Clemson to the national quarterfinals for the first time since 2020.
Clemson will play host to No. 2 seed Penn State next weekend. The Nittany Lions edged sixth-seeded Saint Louis 4-3 on Sunday in University Park,…
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