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North Carolina Captures ACC Women's Soccer Championship With 2-1 Win Over Florida State
Nov. 5, 2006 CARY, N.C. - Senior Elizabeth Guess scored the golden goal on a give-and-go in the 99th minute of the first overtime session to give top-seeded North Carolina a 2-1 victory over second-seeded Florida State in the finals of the 2006 ACC Women's Soccer Championship at the SAS Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C. The championship was the Tar Heels' second in a row and 17th overall in the 19-year existence of the tournament. North Carolina controlled play in their half of the pitch during the early portion of the match registering four corner kicks through the first 14 minutes of action. Guess had the first true scoring chance of the afternoon as she got behind the Seminole defense and ripped a point blank shot from 15 yards out. The ball went right to keeper Ali Mims who deflected the shot and quickly pounced on the rebound. In the 19th minute, Florida State had its first scoring chance of the afternoon as senior Kelly Rowland raced down the right side of the field firing a shot from 25 yards out that sailed wide left of the net. Seven minutes later North Carolina keeper Anna Rodenbough earned her first save of the afternoon as she stopped India Trotter's shot from 18 yards out. At the 34:00 minute mark of the first half, the Tar Heels had another great scoring chance thwarted away by Mims. North Carolina freshman Casey Nogueira started the play sending a cross from the left side of the pitch and into the box where it glanced off the Seminole defense right to the feet of Robyn Gayle. Gayle gathered the ball and laced a shot right at Mims for the save to keep the match scoreless heading into the locker room. Florida State scored the first goal of the match just under six minutes into the start of the second half. Freshman Becky Edwards fed a through ball down the right side of the field leading to a breakaway by senior India Trotter. Trotter, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., just beat Rodenbough far post for a 1-0 Seminole advantage. The goal was Trotter's first of the tournament and sixth of the season. Edwards was credited with the assist on the play.
Less than seven minutes later, North Carolina would even the match at 1-1 off a free kick by Yael Averbuch. The Seminoles were called for a foul just outside the box resulting in a free kick opportunity for the Tar Heels. Ali Hawkins touched the ball in play and Averbuch followed closely firing a low cross into the left side of the net beating Mims for a one all tie. The goal was Averbuch's team leading 12th of the season and first of the tournament. The assist was awarded to Hawkins. Tobin Heath had a great scoring opportunity for the Tar Heels in the 81st minute as she sent a knuckling shot on goal that was deflected by Mims. Under a minute later, North Carolina had another great chance to take the lead as Gayle's shot glanced off the cross bar and out of bounds. Both teams remained tied at the end of regulation sending the match into sudden victory overtime. It marked the third overtime final in ACC Women's Soccer history and the second in the last three years. Less than two minutes to go in the first overtime, Guess notched the game-winner off a give-and-go from freshman Whitney Engen. Guess fired a shot into the lower right corner of the net for her second goal of the tournament and a 2-1 Tar Heel victory. It was Guess' eighth goal in ACC Tournament history moving her into sole possession of fifth place all-time. Her 22 career points in the tournament rank sixth all-time. Engen earned the assist on the play, registering seven points to lead all players in the 2006 Tournament. In the three matches, Engen tallied two goals and three assists. With 11 saves on the day and 25 for the tournament, Mims moved to second place on the all-time saves list in ACC Tournament history with 44. Rodenbough finished the match with a save. The win moves North Carolina to 21-1-0 on the season earning the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. The women's field of 64 for the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship will be announced on Monday, November 6 between 3 and 4 on ESPNews. The loss moves Florida State to 14-3-4 on the year. A web cast replay of this match is available online through ACC Select at www.theacc.com. Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assists Shots: North Carolina 21, Florida State 5 2006 ACC Women's Soccer All- Tournament Team |
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