Delanie Sheehan (photo by Rodney Williams)Delanie Sheehan (photo by Rodney Williams)
Rodney Williams

Delanie Sheehan (photo by Rodney Williams)

UCLA's Season Ends in Penalty Kicks at UNC

Women's Soccer

Bruins conclude the season with a 17-3-2 record.

Opens in a new window Box Score (PDF)
Box Score

Cary, N.C. - For the second time in three years, UCLA came back to force overtime, only to fall in a penalty kick shootout to No. 1 North Carolina, 4-2, in the NCAA quarterfinals. Hailie Mace scored twice in under a minute to erase a 2-0 deficit, but Tar Heel goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak made two saves in the shootout to send her team to the College Cup.

"I thought we had momentum and more purposeful possession and composure in the second half," said UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell. "I have to give UNC a lot of credit for their overall work rate. They defended so well. But I was proud of our girls for doing what they needed to do to level it up. Sometimes it's a cruel game. (UNC head coach) Anson (Dorrance) is very gracious all the time, in defeat and in victory. He came over right away after the game and said to me, 'I think you're the best team in the country, and it's a shame you're not going to be in the Final Four.'"

North Carolina took an early lead in the third minute on a header by Julia Ashley after a corner kick. The Tar Heels doubled their lead in the 53rd minute after Dorian Bailey knocked in a rebound after Madison Schultz's shot was punched out by Bruin goalkeeper Teagan Micah.

Down 2-0, UCLA came back with a vengeance on a pair of Mace goals 53 seconds apart. At 56:10, the Bruins attacked on a breakaway, with Ashley Sanchez hitting Mace on the left side. On a tough angle, Mace hit a left-footed shot to the far post for her eighth goal of the year. Just 53 seconds later, Mace struck again with her second goal of the night. Delanie Sheehan made a spin move to get free and send a cross across the box. Mace got a foot on it and poked it past the goalkeeper to tie.

Both defenses held strong against offensive attacks to keep the score tied in regulation and overtime to go to penalty kicks. UCLA put Lauren Bryzkcy in goal for the shootout, while Leshnak stayed in goal for the Tar Heels. UNC and UCLA traded penalty kicks in the first two rounds, with Mace and Sunny Dunphy converting. The Tar Heels hit their next two shots, while Leshnak made consecutive saves to win the shootout.

UCLA's season ends with a 17-3-2 record, while Sanchez extended her point-scoring streak to a school-record 13 games and tied Iris Mora's school record with 15 assists this season.