WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT WATCH
1. North Carolina romps in ACC final
No. 3 North Carolina served notice that it is ready to begin its quest for its 19th NCAA Division I women’s title when it beat No. 7 Virginia, 4-1, Sunday in the ACC Tournament final before 4,547 fans in Cary, N.C.
The Tar Heels got a pair of goals from junior Elizabeth Guess and one each from 2004 Olympic gold medalists Lindsay Tarpley and Heather O’Reilly. Senior midfielder Kacie White was named the tournament MVP.
Anna Rodenbough went all 90 minutes in goal for the second successive contest. Rodenbough has started the last two matches in relief of Aly Winget, who suffered a knee injury in Wednesday’s quarterfinal game against Maryland. Winget is expected to be available for the Tar Heels by Friday’s NCAA first round.
Coach Anson Dorrance will go for his 600th career victory in Friday's game. He is 599-27-17 since starting the Carolina program in 1979.
With the win, Carolina captured its 16th ACC Tournament title in the 18-year history of the tournament. The victory avenged last year's loss to the Cavaliers, who claimed the title in a shootout. The Tar Heels are 30-0-1 lifetime against Virginia.
2. Texas goalkeeper scores from midfield
Texas lost to Colorado, 3-2, Friday in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament but not before a spectacular comeback that featured a rare goal by goalie Dianna Pfenninger.
Trailing 2-0 with 15 minutes left, Texas scored on goals by its freshman stars, Kasey Moore and Pfenninger.
Pfenninger’s tying goal came with less than two minutes remaining. She launched a free kick from midfield into the Colorado box that bounced inside the six-yard line and into the back of the net to knot the game at 2-2. Colorado won in overtime.
“I never had a doubt that we were going to come back,” Moore told the Daily Texan. “Even when Dianna was taking the free kick, I was like, 'We can score off this.' I didn't think we would score that exact way, but we ended up scoring. Everyone just kept going and kept fighting."
Texas A&M beat Colorado, 2-1, in overtime Sunday to win the Big 12 title.
Women's Conference Tournament Scores & Goalscorers
__________________
|