ACC Co-Freshman of the Year Alessia Russo scored the lone goal in Friday night’s ACC Semifinal matchup between No. 2 seed UNC and No. 3 seed NC State–handing the Tar Heels a 1-0 victory in Charleston.

The England native sent home a rocket from 24 yards out in the 56th minute for her team-leading ninth goal of the season, and her seventh from outside the box.

UNC (14-2-2) held the Wolfpack (14-5-1) to just two shots on goal for the entirety of the match, in what was the only meeting this year between the two longtime rivals.

The win keeps hope alive for UNC to win its first conference tournament title since 2009, and 21st in program history.

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As a reward for their stellar effort against the Wolfpack, the Tar Heels will now get to face their other most hated rival–the ACC regular season champion Duke Blue Devils–in Sunday’s ACC Championship Game.

The previous matchup between UNC and Duke this season ended in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory for the Tar Heels.

 

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)

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