Junior forward Alessia Russo scored less than two minutes into the second overtime period on Sunday at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, giving the No. 3 UNC women’s soccer team a 2-1 victory over No. 1 Virginia in the ACC Tournament Championship Game.

It was the first loss of the season for Virginia, which will enter the NCAA Tournament with a record of 16-1-3. UNC, meanwhile, moves to 19-1-1 with its eighth consecutive victory overall.

Prior to the overtime periods, UNC held a 1-0 lead for the majority of the match thanks to a goal in the sixth minute from Maycee Bell. The Cavaliers finally tied things up in the 68th minute on a free-kick goal from Diana Ordonez–her 14th goal of the season.

The Tar Heels controlled most of the proceedings, ending the day with 16 shots while holding Virginia to just four. Still, though, the result was in doubt all the way until Russo’s goal.

The Tar Heels have also now won 22 ACC Tournament titles throughout the history of their program. Russo was named the Tournament MVP after scoring twice in the semifinals against NC State, then delivering the game-winner against Virginia on Sunday.

This also marks UNC’s first win over a No. 1 ranked team since defeating Stanford 1-0 in double overtime during the 2012 NCAA Tournament Semifinals.

 

 

 

 

Photo via Dakota Moyer

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