Aug. 27, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Teresa Noyola gave No. 2 Stanford a second-half lead, but No. 1 North Carolina rallied for a 2-2 double-overtime draw Friday in a rematch of last year's NCAA women's soccer final.
Noyola's header at the far post, off a cross from defender Camille Levin on an overlapping run, evaded the outstretched glove of Tar Heels' goalkeeper Anna Sieloff to give Stanford a 2-1 lead in the 60th minute. But UNC's Amber Brooks answered in the 71st minute by ripping a left-footed shot just inside the right post.
Two 10-minute overtime periods failed to decide the match, though Stanford's Allison McCann had a shot cleared off the line in the first overtime.
"It was disappointing," Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said. "We played hard and had good chances. But we should've finished the job."
The final statistics didn't differ much either. North Carolina outshot Stanford, 14-12, with Sieloff forced into five saves, while Stanford's Kira Maker made four. Stanford (1-0-2) had much of the possession, with North Carolina (2-0-1) pushing forward on counter-attacks.
Christen Press gave Stanford the initial lead when she took a pass from Courtney Verloo, cut inside and fired a curving left-footed shot inside the far left post in the 32nd minute. It was Press' second goal of the season and allowed her to pass Erin Martin (1993-96) and into fourth on the school's all-time scoring list, with 127 points (47 goals, 33 assists).
North Carolina equalized, 1-1, in the 51st minute when Kealia Ohai converted a rebound inside the far post.
Stanford was unable to earn its first victory over North Carolina, falling to 0-8-3 in a series that began in 1989, including North Carolina's 1-0 victory in the 2009 final. But the Cardinal did achieve something: The goal by Press marked the first time Stanford ever led in the history of the series.
"I think, in fairness, being away from home, it's a better result for us than them," Ratcliffe said. "North Carolina's a great team. But the girls are disappointed -- they should be. We let them back in the game."
Now, Stanford must regroup against No. 25 Duke (2-1) on Sunday at 8 a.m. PT in the final leg of the Carolina Nike Classic.
The concern for Ratcliffe is his players' capacity to regroup, especially after playing two overtime matches so far on the trip and after putting so much focus on North Carolina. The Duke match marks the end of a season-opening 12-day, four-match trip.
"The legs are a little weary," Ratcliffe said. "But we've got to get re-focused for the next game."
Stanford opens its home season Sept. 10, against Georgia at 7 p.m. as part of the Stanford Nike Invitational at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.