North Carolina Women’s Soccer Advances to 2024 NCAA College Cup with Overtime Win Over Penn State

North Carolina Women’s Soccer Advances to 2024 NCAA College Cup with Overtime Win Over Penn State

November 30, 2024 Catherine Williams - Chief Editor Sports

North Carolina Advances to College Cup

Chapel Hill, N.C. – The No. 2-seed North Carolina Tar Heels defeated No. 4-seed Penn State, 2-1, in overtime on Friday night at Dorrance Field. This victory secures a spot for North Carolina in the national semifinals of the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Tournament. Kate Faasse scored the winning goal in the 98th minute, heading in a corner kick from Tessa Dellarose.

This win marks North Carolina’s 32nd College Cup appearance, more than any other program, with the Tar Heels having made five appearances in the last seven years. Interim head coach Damon Nahas has led the team to its 30th season with 20 or more wins, a feat achieved five times in the last fifteen seasons.

North Carolina is currently ranked eighth nationally with a record of 20-5 (7-3 ACC). Penn State finishes its season with a 15-7-3 record (5-4-2 Big Ten).

Match Summary:

  • Penn State took an early lead with a goal from Katie Scott in the 14th minute.
  • Bella Gaetino almost equalized for UNC but was denied by Penn State’s goalkeeper.
  • In the second half, Gaetino scored a stunning goal in the 49th minute to level the game at 1-1.
  • Faasse had a good chance to take the lead but missed in the 84th minute.
  • North Carolina dominated with 31 total shots compared to Penn State’s 8.
  • Faasse’s golden goal came from a corner kick with less than three minutes left in the first overtime.

Statistics:

  • Faasse leads with 19 goals this season.
  • Gaetino’s goal was her fifth of the year.
  • Dellarose has seven assists, and Nagai adds three assists to her total.
  • North Carolina’s defense limited Penn State’s chances, maintaining a strong shot differential.

Next Steps:

The Tar Heels will face either No. 1-seed Duke or No. 7-seed Virginia Tech in the semifinals on December 6. This match is a step toward their 23rd national championship and will be broadcast on ESPNU.

Fans can purchase tickets for the College Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park. Follow UNC women’s soccer on social media for updates.