The Tar Heels are back on top.

A 62nd-minute free-kick goal from Olivia Thomas was all Carolina needed to gut out a 1-0 win against Wake Forest in the national championship match in Cary on Monday night. It’s UNC’s 23rd national title and first since 2012.

“What an amazing group of women that I’ve been fortunate to coach over the course of this year,” said head coach Damon Nahas, whose interim tag was removed Monday morning by athletic director Bubba Cunningham. “A lot of people say their team deserves it. This is a special group.”

Wake Forest controlled much of the possession throughout a tense first half. The Demon Deacons sent three shots toward the Carolina net in a span of six minutes early in the half, but Tar Heel keeper Clare Gagne was up to the task each time. The half ended with Wake Forest holding a 5-1 edge in shots.

“I told them, ‘We won that first half,'” Nahas said. “What I mean by that is, Wake Forest dominated us. We won being 0-0… that, to me, was the biggest message.”

UNC controlled more possession in the second half and found its best chance of the night when the Demon Deacons were assessed a yellow card just outside their own 18-yard box. Thomas stepped in to take the free kick and blasted it into the Wake Forest net for the night’s only goal. It turned out to be Carolina’s final shot on goal of the evening.

“I don’t know how to put it into words, honestly,” Thomas said. “In the moment, I blacked out.”

Despite Wake Forest pressing ferociously for the remaining 28 minutes, the Tar Heel defense did not allow another shot on goal. The Demon Deacons only accounted for two total shots in the second half, while Carolina had five. The 1-0 win is UNC’s fifth shutout in six matches in the NCAA Tournament. Overall, the Tar Heels allowed just one total goal during their tournament run.

Gagne was named the College’s Cup’s Defensive Most Outstanding Player, while Thomas took home Offensive Most Outstanding Player honors.

The championship win breaks a run of three straight losses in national title matches for the Tar Heels since their last title in 2012. Carolina came up short in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Monday’s victory was also the second win for Carolina against the Demon Deacons this season. UNC beat Wake Forest 1-0 on September 12 in Chapel Hill.

The 2024 title is the first won by the program without head coach Anson Dorrance, who retired just days before the season started. Though Dorrance was not in attendance for Monday’s game, Nahas said he found a way to get his old mentor involved.

“I FaceTimed Anson as soon as the game [ended],” Nahas said. “This is a gift for him. They love him and he’s around us all the time, and he deserved to be a part of this with us.”

UNC finishes the season 22-5 overall. Nahas is the 15th different head coach to win a national championship with the Tar Heels, and the title is the school’s 51st overall in any sport.

 

Featured image via NCAA Soccer on Twitter

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC's Kate Faasse Named Winner of MAC Hermann Trophy
Kate Faasse is adding another trophy to her collection. The UNC junior forward, who finished the 2024 season with 20 goals while leading the Tar Heels to their 23rd national championship, was named the winner of the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy as the top player in collegiate women’s soccer on Friday evening. The BEST […]
Top Stories of 2024: After a Shocking Retirement, UNC Women's Soccer Reclaims Its Throne
UNC women's soccer put together one of its most memorable – and unexpected – seasons in program history this fall.
Tar Heel Community Reacts on Social Media to UNC Women's Soccer's Latest Championship
After UNC women's soccer won the national title on Monday, Tar Heels took to social media to celebrate and offer their congratulations.
Chansky's Notebook: Number 23
No. 23 for the best women’s soccer program is also the number of an equally legendary basketball player for UNC. Champions, all.
UNC Women's Soccer in the National Championship (2024): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Kickoff Time
Carolina will play for its 23rd national title at NCAA Women’s College Cup on Monday night in Cary. The Tar Heels will face No. 2 seed Wake Forest after defeating No. 1 Duke in the national semifinals on Friday. If you aren’t making the trip to Cary, here’s how you can follow along at home: […]
UNC Women's Soccer Dominates No. 1 Duke in College Cup, Advances to National Title Match
Carolina took the lead early against No. 1 Duke in the College Cup in Cary on Friday and kept the Blue Devils at bay the rest of the night, throttling its ACC rivals 3-0 in the national semifinals. UNC will play for the national championship on Monday night. PAINT IT CAROLINA BLUE, BABY!!#GoHeels x @WellsFargo […]
Golden Goal Sends UNC Women's Soccer Past Penn State into College Cup
Kate Faasse scored 7:12 into sudden-victory overtime to give Carolina a 2-1 win against No. 4 seed Penn State in the NCAA quarterfinals on Friday night at Dorrance Field, advancing the Tar Heels through to the College Cup in Cary next weekend. It’s UNC’s 32nd appearance in the national semifinals. CARY, HERE WE COME!! For […]
UNC Women's Soccer Rolls Past Minnesota Into NCAA Quarterfinals
Carolina dominated all night against No. 6 seed Minnesota in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 16 on Sunday night at Dorrance Field, beating the Golden Gophers 3-0 to advance to the national quarterfinals for the third straight season and 35th time overall. The win is the program’s 150th in NCAA Tournament play. No other program […]
Last-Minute Winner Sends UNC Women's Soccer Past Santa Clara in NCAA Tournament
Tessa Dellarose scored from point-blank range in the 90th minute to finally break a scoreless tie and give Carolina a 1-0 win against Santa Clara in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Dorrance Field on Friday night. The Tar Heels will face No. 6 seed Minnesota in the round of 16 on Sunday. […]
UNC Women's Soccer Receives No. 2 Seed in 2024 NCAA Tournament
Carolina will compete as a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament and will face USC-Upstate in the first round at Dorrance Field. The full bracket was announced Monday afternoon, with the Tar Heels learning their draw following a loss in the ACC Tournament on Sunday. Carolina will kick-off against the Spartans […]
›