CARY, N.C. (theACC.com) – For the first time since 2018, two Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Soccer teams will play for a national championship as No. 2 seeds North Carolina and Wake Forest advanced to the title match of the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s College Cup Friday evening at WakeMed Soccer Park.
In a semifinal that featured four ACC teams for the first time ever, the Demon Deacons edged third-seeded Stanford, 1-0, while the Tar Heels captured a 3-0 win over top seed and in-state rival Duke. Wake Forest earned its first-ever trip to the national title match, while North Carolina earned its 29th appearance in the final and seeks its 22nd title.
After the Deacs and Cardinal played 72 scoreless minutes, Wake’s Emily Morris found the breakthrough in the 73rd minute as her shot just crossed the goal line for the eventual game winner. The win marked Wake Forest’s second 1-0 win over Stanford this season following a regular season win on September 19.
Meeting for the fourth time this season, North Carolina scored twice in the first half and added an insurance goal in the second half to earn its spot in Monday’s final. Kate Faasse opened the match’s scoring when she converted a penalty kick in the 10th minute, as she became the nation’s leading scorer with her 20th goal of the season. Faasee later added an assist on Maddie Dahlien’s tally in the 59th minute. Olivia Thomas also found the scoresheet in the 24th minute to give the Tar Heels a 2-0 advantage at the halftime break.
Since UNC and Florida State played in the national championship in 2018, every final has featured at least one ACC team, as the league has captured two of the last three national titles. With the ACC matchup set for the final, the ACC will earn its 26th national championship and 32nd among current membership.
The Tar Heels and Demon Deacons will play for the national championship on Monday, December 9, at 7 p.m. ET from WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. The final will be featured on ESPNU.
NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship (all times ET)
NCAA Tournament – First Round
Friday, November 15
at #1 Florida State 8, Samford 0
at #1 Duke 8, Howard 0
at #2 North Carolina 8, USC Upstate 0
at #2 Wake Forest 4, Morehead State 0
at #3 Stanford 5, UC Santa Barbara 0
at #4 Notre Dame 5, Milwaukee 1
at #4 Virginia 2, Princeton 1
at #7 Virginia Tech 2, Tennessee 1
Saturday, November 16
California 2, at #7 Pepperdine 1 (2OT)
NCAA Tournament – Second Round
Friday, November 22
#4 Notre Dame 3, #5 Kentucky 1
Starkville, Miss.
#3 Stanford 2, UConn 1
Fayetteville, Ark.
at #2 North Carolina 1, Santa Clara 0
at #2 Wake Forest 3, Colorado 1
at #1 Duke 3, #8 Texas Tech 0
#7 Virginia Tech 2, at #2 UCLA 1
at #2 Arkansas 1, California 0
vs. #5 Wisconsin 0, #4 Virginia 0 (2OT; Wisconsin advances 4-2 in penalties)
Los Angeles, Calif.
#8 Vanderbilt 3, at #1 Florida State 3 (2OT; Vanderbilt advances 4-3 in penalties)
NCAA Tournament – Third Round
Sunday, November 24
at #2 Wake Forest 1, #3 Ohio State 0
at #2 North Carolina 3, #6 Minnesota 0
at #1 Duke 2, #5 Michigan State 0
#4 Notre Dame 2, at #1 Mississippi State 0
#3 Stanford 1 at #2 Arkansas 1 (2OT; Stanford advances 4-2 in penalties)
#7 Virginia Tech 1, vs. #3 Iowa 0
Los Angeles, Calif.
NCAA Tournament – Quarterfinals
Friday, November 29
#2 Wake Forest 2, at #1 USC 2 (2OT; Wake Forest advances 4-3 in penalties)
at #3 Stanford 2, #4 Notre Dame 0
at #2 North Carolina 2, #4 Penn State 1 (OT)
Saturday, November 30
at #1 Duke 1, #7 Virginia Tech 0
Women’s College Cup (WakeMed Soccer Park – Cary, North Carolina)
Semifinals
Friday, December 6
#2 North Carolina 3, #1 Duke 0
#2 Wake Forest 1, #3 Stanford 0
Women’s College Cup (WakeMed Soccer Park – Cary, North Carolina)
National Championship
Monday, December 9
#2 North Carolina vs. #2 Wake Forest | 7 p.m. ET | ESPNU
Rankings based off NCAA Tournament seeding