Dec. 3, 2000
San Jose, Calif. - The University of North Carolina women's soccer team scored two second-half goals Sunday to register a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over sixth-seeded UCLA in the finals of the NCAA College Cup at San Jose's Spartan Stadium. It is UNC's second-straight NCAA women's soccer championship and 16th in program history. Seeded fifth, UNC is also the lowest seeded team ever to win the NCAA Championship.
UCLA (19-4-1) struck first in the 54th minute of the match when a cross from Stephanie Rigamat caused confusion between UNC goalkeeper Jenni Branam and defender Catherine Reddick. Rigamat's cross into the box forced both Branam and Reddick to collide while going for the ball, leaving Bruin freshman Lindsay Greco with an empty net.
Carolina, however, tied the score in the 76th minute of the match on a Meredith Florance goal, assisted by Alyssa Ramsey and Danielle Borgman.
The match looked like it might go into overtime until the 83rd minute of the match when Reddick launched a shot into the UCLA box that managed to skid off the calf of Bruin defender Krista Boling, going into the net. It was scored an own goal.
"I'm extremely proud of my teams' performance today, I thought they battled hard," said UCLA head coach Jillian Ellis. "It was tough for us to play how we like to play because of the great pressure Carolina put us under. They run, then they run their subs in and then they continue to run and that's tough. My congratulations to North Carolina, it was well deserved."
For the first time all season, UCLA was out shot, posting just three shots compared to 14 for North Carolina. It was also the first time all season that any team has scored more than one goal against the Bruins.
North Carolina dominated the first 45 minutes of play, outshooting the Bruins 5-1, including a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks. Florance, Ramsey and Kalli Kamholz all had scoring opportunities in the first half. UCLA defender Kathryn Lee, however, made several great defensive stops, including the clearance of a loose ball in the UCLA box following a Florance attempt in the first half.
"I thought we beat an excellent UCLA team," said North Carolina head coach Anson Dorrance. "In a lot of respects, that was like playing ourselves. I told our kids before the game that this was going to be like an inter-squad scrimmage. UCLA sets their personalities free to go one-on-one at defenses and that was how their first goal was scored. We're just ecstatic to be up here as champions and we salute a tremendous UCLA team."
Following the match, defender Karissa Hampton and midfielder Venus James were named to the All-Tournament Team. The Bruins were bidding to become the first team from California, and the first West Coast team, to win the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship.