Over its last eight games, the UNC women’s soccer team has been nothing short of unbreakable.
Although the Tar Heels lost in the ACC Championship Game to Florida State on penalty kicks, the team has recorded shutouts in eight consecutive games on the way to San Jose for its first Final Four appearance since 2012.
Goalkeeper Lindsey Harris has etched her name in the school’s all-time record books during the team’s recent hot streak, while freshman forward Madison Schultz continues to find ways to give UNC (17-3-4) the goals it needs to win.
After handing top-seeded South Carolina its second loss of the season in the NCAA Quarterfinals, the Tar Heels have now earned the privilege of playing the No. 1 team in America on Friday–the West Virginia Mountaineers–for a spot in the national championship game.
With UNC having won 22 NCAA Titles, and this being West Virginia’s first ever College Cup, the fact that the second-seeded Tar Heels are underdogs is certainly a historic anomaly.
What makes the game even more interesting is the similarities in style.
The Mountaineers boast the National Player of the Year in senior defender Kadeisha Buchanan. With her as the anchor in the back, West Virginia has posted a program-record 17 shutouts in their 25 games (22-1-2).
A starter for the Canadian National Team, Buchanan was also honored as the Best Young Player at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
UNC head coach Anson Dorrance has relied on young players like Schultz and ACC Freshman of the Year Bridgette Andrzejewski to lead the team in scoring this season. While talented, the lack of experience on the Tar Heel frontline could be seriously tested against Buchanan and the veteran Mountaineer defense.
It would come as no surprise if the first goal scored turned out to be the only goal scored in a matchup between two of the country’s best defensive units
The game is scheduled for five o’clock Friday evening, with ESPNU televising it for national audiences.
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