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Women's College Cup Florance, Sheppard find net for North Carolina in 2-0 victory over Notre Dame for NCAA title.
UNC won its 15th NCAA crown in the 18 years of the tournament and its 16th overall, including the 1981 Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women title. "We're ecstatic to have beaten a tremendously gritty and classy Notre Dame team," beamed North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance. Notre Dame (21-4-1), after upsetting No. 1 Santa Clara 1-0 in Friday's semifinals despite being outshot 17-3, again conceded a large portion of possession to UNC (24-2), which held another 17-3 shots advantage on the Irish. "We were a little frustrated at the half," said Florance. "We didn't hang our head because we knew that if we have the heart and play like we're capable of playing, we can win any game. We were so positive." The first few minutes set the tone for the match. Notre Dame packed in its zone, stopping several UNC offensive thrusts. Florance missed from close on the left wing in the 14th minute and Irish senior goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene turned back shots by Anne Remy and Jena Kluegel later in the period. The go-ahead sequence began when striker Kim Patrick received a throw-in and touched the ball to her right to fellow freshman Susan Bush. Bush volleyed the slowly bouncing ball back to Patrick who went high to head the ball forward over the head of Irish midfielder Mia Sarkesian. Florance collected the ball in the top left of the penalty area, cut right for a couple of steps and as defender reached a foot out for an attempted tackle, tucked a low curling shot into the right corner just beyond the reach of a diving Beene for her 13th goal and the 1-0 lead at 55:11. "I knew that chances weren't going to come that often and we have to finish the ones we get," Florance said. "After (missing her early opportunity), I started to refocus and the next chance I got I would have to stick it. That's what was going through my head." After the initial goal, the Tar Heels adjusted their defense, pressuring Notre Dame in the midfield with forwards Florance, Raven McDonald, and Remy, as well as midfielders Rebekah McDowell, Kluegel, and Sheppard. "It takes us awhile to wear down an opponent," Dorrance said. "I was not particularly frustrated at the half. I had a feeling that the amount of energy Notre Dame used to weather the Santa Clara storm would enable us to make a move in second half," said Dorrance, whose team outscored opponents in the second half 54-2 in 1999. UNC upped its advantage to 2-0 at 79:06 when Bush led McDonald with a long ball into the left side of the box. McDonald sidestepped the slide tackle of freshamn defender Vanessa Pruzinsky and centered tp Sheppard who had slipped behind junior Monica Gonzalez. Sheppard ended her college career on a high note, knocking her two yard shot to the left behind Beene who was trying to get back into position after challenging McDonald. "The foundation for success in collegiate athletics is recruiting," Dorrance said. "If you bring in quality players, you will be able to compete for the championships. I'm flattered that we do consistently bring in these quality players, . . . (but) you don't win the critical games with technical or tactical skills. You win it with heart." The setback marked the first time in 20 outings the Irish were shutout and the second time this season. "If you can get your runs timed correctly and the right kind of service, you can get behind them," Notre Dame coach Randy Waldrum said. "I think Penn State did that in the first game when they beat Carolina and I think they got in there a couple of times on Friday (in a 2-0 semifinals loss). We were attempting to do that, but their midfield played real well for them. We honestly thought we could exploit (Rebekah) McDowell and Sheppard. A credit to those two." Notre Dame was seriously hurt with the loss of junior midfielder Anne Makinen with a hamstring injury. She was already slowed by a knee problem suffered in the tournament quarterfinals against Nebraska. If there's one thing I am disappointed with is the fact that I don't think anybody here got to see our team in full strength," said Waldrum. "I am certainly not making excuses for the game because Carolina was so sharp today. The attendance of 14,410 for the championship game set an all-time women's collegiate record. The tournament also set a two-day attendance record of 28,423, besting the previous mark of 20,028 set last year in Greensboro, N.C. North Carolina 2, Notre Dame 0Lineups: Notre Dame - LaKeysia Beene, Kelly Lindsey, Kara Brown, Vanessa Pruzinsky, Jen Grubb, Mia Sarkesian, Anne Makinen, Ashley Dryer, Meotis Erikson, Jenny Heft, Jenny Streiffer. Reserves: Monica Gonzalez, Ali Lovelace, Nancy Mikacenic, Kerry Bakker, Lindsey Jones, Iris Lancaster; North Carolina - Jenni Branam, Lindsay Stoecker, Lorrie Fair, Danielle Borgman, Charlotte Miller, Rebekah McDowell, Jena Kluegel, Beth Sheppard, Anne Remy, Raven McDonald, Meredith Florance. Reserves: Kim Patrick, Susan Bush, Leslie Gaston, Elizabeth Ball.Scoring:
Total shots: Notre Dame 3, North Carolina 17. Shots on goal: Notre Dame 2, North Carolina 6. Saves: Notre Dame - Beene 4; North Carolina - Branam 2. Fouls: Notre Dame 14, North Carolina 11. Corner kicks: Notre Dame 0, North Carolina 6. Yellow card cautions: Notre Dame - Streiffer 59:16. Referee: Mike Ballson. Referee's assistants: Sia Rahimi, Ayner Koldero. Attendance: 14,410 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif. Weather: Clear, sunny, 62 degrees. |
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Sunday, December 5, 1999) -- Meredith Florance and Beth
Sheppard provided second-half goals spurring No. 2 North Carolina to a 2-0
victory over fifth-ranked Notre Dame this afternoon to capture the Women's
College Cup before a record crowd of 14,410 at Spartan Stadium.