Heels gain ACC women's soccer final

CARY -- Coming into the semifinal of the ACC Women's Soccer Tournament on Friday, North Carolina had played in each of the previous 21 championship games. Make it 22.

No. 3 seed UNC (16-3-1) beat No. 2 seed Boston College 1-0 in overtime at WakeMed Soccer Park to oust the Eagles (15-3-2) from the ACC Tournament for the second year in a row.

With 7:46 left before the game would move to a shootout, North Carolina's pressure finally cracked Boston College's defense.

Senior forward Casey Nogueira crossed the ball in front of Boston College's goal. The ball deflected off Boston College's sophomore defender Alyssa Pember for an own goal.

UNC knows Boston College's pain. In 1995, North Carolina lost in the NCAA Tournament semifinals on an own goal.

"Eventually, it all comes out in the wash," UNC head coach Anson Dorrance said. "It certainly did for us tonight."

UNC and Boston College finished the regular season tied as the ACC leaders in fewest goals allowed at eight. It showed as regulation play and the first half of overtime ended in a scoreless tie.

UNC controlled the ball most of the game as it fired off 21 shots. BC had only five. Nogueira had 10 of those shots. Along with several other close calls, in the 16th minute, Nogueira had a cross hit the right post but bounce harmlessly away.

"I was just thinking that if I shoot enough, one will eventually go in," Nogueira said. "If not, I just still have to keep shooting because that's the only way you score."

BC sophomore goalkeeper Jillian Mastroianni notched 11 saves. UNC senior Ashlyn Harris had four en route to her eighth shutout of the season.

"Our defense is always solid," Harris said. "They're an unbelievable unit. They play well together. To be honest, this season they've made my job very easy."

North Carolina's all-time record in ACC Tournament play is now 56-0-3. North Carolina tries for its 20th ACC Tournament title against No. 1 seed Florida State at 2 p.m. Sunday. When the two teams met earlier this season, Florida State won in overtime 3-2.

"I'm really excited about the way we're starting to play again," Dorrance said. "I'm just hoping we have our legs for Sunday."

Florida State 2, Virginia Tech 0: No. 1-seeded Florida State (16-3-1) beat Virginia Tech (14-7) to advance to the ACC title game for the fifth time.

"Virginia Tech was hard to break down and gave us all we could handle," Florida State coach Mark Krikorian said.

Seminoles sophomore forward Jessica Price scored the first goal at 66:32 on a rebound from 5 yards out. Junior midfielder Marrisa Kazbour was credited with the assist. Her shot had been swatted away by Hokies goalkeeper Kristin Carden, but Price was ready.

Price and sophomore midfielder Casey Short assisted on the second goal by junior midfielder Amanda DaCosta at 88:24.

Seminoles goalie Erin McNulty, a sophomore, came up with the only save she needed in the first half.

Junior Kimmy Diaz replaced her in the second half and had two saves.

From ACC releases

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