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Published Sun, Nov 22, 2009 02:00 AM
Modified Sat, Nov 21, 2009 10:51 PM

Tar Heels get Terrapin trifecta

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BY BRIAN CONLIN - Staff Writer

Tags: soccer | sports | unc

CHAPEL HILL -- Playing each other for the third time this month, North Carolina and Maryland met in the second round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament on Saturday. And for the third time the Tar Heels left the pitch with a shutout.

"It's the nature of the quality of the league that we're going to face a team possibly three times," UNC coach Anson Dorrance said. "It's no fun, trust me. But this is our tri fecta."

With the 1-0 victory, North Carolina (20-3-1) advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the 26th time in 28 seasons. The Tar Heels will host another ACC rival, Wake Forest, at 2 p.m. Friday at Fetzer Field.

In the first half, the Tar Heels fired 10 shots, but Maryland senior goalkeeper Mary Casey, who came into the game with a 0.98 goals-against average, kept the Tar Heels off the board by notching five first-half saves.

The second half was much the same.

UNC senior Tobin Heath managed to deposit a ball into the back of the net, but the goal was waved off because the referee blew the play dead prior to the goal.

The match stayed scoreless until UNC senior Casey Nogueira broke through with her ninth goal of the season with 8:14 left in regulation.

Nogueira took a throw-in from junior Jessica McDonald and kicked a booming shot from 25 yards out into the right side of the goal.

"We usually throw it in long-throw into the box," Nogueira said. "Instead, Jess saw me wide open, so she threw it to me. It kind of caught the Maryland players off guard, I think, and I just turned and shot it."

Maryland (14-6-2) had its first-half scoring opportunities muted by five offside calls. The Terrapins took seven shots in the game.

UNC senior goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris collected two saves for her 10th shutout.

UNC has shut out its last eight opponents and not allowed a goal in the past 742 minutes. The Tar Heels hadn't collected eight straight shutouts since 1997.

"As much as I'd love to say I have to make all these saves, I don't," Harris said. "My defense is very solid. ... They make my job really easy. They make me look good."

Playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004, Maryland lost in the second round for the third time in as many appearances.

In its quest for its 20th national title, the Tar Heels improved to 103-7-1 all-time in NCAA Tournament play. They are 15-0-1 all-time against ACC teams in the NCAA Tournament.

"If we can keep winning and make our low close to where our peak is, I think this team could be a very special team," Dorrance said.

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