UNC couldn’t hold on to a 1-0 lead late in the second half Monday afternoon, and No. 2 seed TCU scored a 90th-minute equalizer before winning on a penalty shootout to end the Tar Heels’ season.

Carolina had dominated possession for much of the match, holding decisive leads in both total shots and shots on target. But the score remained 0-0 until the 82nd minute, when UNC’s Bella Devey collided with the TCU goalkeeper while chasing a long pass, but somehow managed to find her balance again and knock the ball into the Horned Frog net. Carolina led 1-0 and had one foot in the NCAA quarterfinals.

The Tar Heels held that lead until the very last seconds of regular time, with goalkeeper Hannah Johann stopping TCU’s first shot on target in the 85th minute. But the Horned Frogs earned a corner kick in the final 30 seconds, and the service into the box was headed in for the tying goal.

UNC kept the pressure on during the two 10-minute overtime periods, firing two more shots at the TCU net, but could not find a breakthrough. The match went to a penalty shootout, the second in a row for the Tar Heels.

Things immediately went sideways for Carolina, as Kate Faasse missed her first penalty and TCU made each of its first two. A lifeline appeared when the Horned Frogs missed their third penalty to even the shootout at 2-2, but Olivia Thomas promptly missed hers, giving the advantage back to TCU. The Horned Frogs made each of their last two penalties to end the shootout.

UNC ends the season with a 13-6-2 overall record.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications


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