Carolina rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit to deal top-ranked Duke a 2-1 loss – its first since August 15 – in the ACC semifinals in Cary on Thursday night.

The Tar Heels initially fell behind after a replay review awarded Duke a penalty kick in the 29th minute, which the Blue Devils converted for the match’s first goal. But Carolina answered early in the second half, with ACC All-Freshman team honoree Linda Ullmark scoring on a long-range effort.

Duke nearly scored again to break the tie in the 71st minute, but freshman defender Trinity Armstrong – playing in her first match for UNC since returning from international duties with Team USA – cleared it off the line to preserve the 1-1 score. Armstrong then made her presence felt on the other end of the pitch, heading in a corner kick in the 81st minute to give Carolina its first lead of the night — and its first lead against Duke in three matches this season.

The Blue Devils manages just one more shot on target in the final minutes, which Tar Heel keeper Clare Gagne stopped for her fourth save of the evening.

The two teams finished even on total shots (13-13) with Duke holding a slight advantage in shots on target (7-5). The Blue Devils also took twice as many corner kicks (6-3).

The win is Carolina’s first against Duke this season after dropping both regular-season meetings. The No. 1 Blue Devils came into the night unbeaten in their last 15 matches and undefeated in ACC play. With Thursday’s victory, No. 4 seed UNC will advance to the ACC Championship for the 29th time in program history. The Tar Heels will face No. 3 seed Florida State, which beat No. 2 seed Wake Forest in penalty kicks in the night’s other semifinal. The Seminoles have won the last four ACC Tournaments. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Sunday in Cary, and the match will be broadcast on ESPNU.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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