Women’s Soccer: UNC Advances to College Cup With Penalty Shootout Victory Over No. 4 UCLA

It took extra time and penalty kicks to decide a winner in Friday night’s NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament quarterfinal matchup at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary between No. 3 UNC and No. 4 UCLA, but it was the Tar Heels who will move on to the College Cup after edging the Bruins 4-2 in the penalty shootout.

As a result, head coach Anson Dorrance and company are now two wins away from their first national championship since 2012.

UNC (20-3-2) jumped ahead less than three minutes into the match with a goal from Julia Ashley, and later doubled that lead early in the second half when Dorian Bailey found the back of the net in the 53rd minute.

Not long after Bailey’s goal appeared to give the Tar Heels plenty of insurance, UCLA (17-3-2) responded with back-to-back goals from Hailie Mace within 57 seconds of one another to tie the action.

Neither side was able to break through after that, even through 20 minutes of extra time–bringing the match to the penalty shootout.

A pair of critical saves from UNC goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak ended up being exactly what the doctor ordered for the Tar Heels, who scored on each of their four penalty attempts.

Up Next:

A showdown with No. 2 Georgetown–a squad that comes into the match undefeated in 2018–awaits the Tar Heels in their College Cup semifinal match next Friday at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Photo via UNC Athletics

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