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| Thursday, November 30 Heels, Irish to renew rivalry in San Jose By Wayne Drehs ESPN.com |
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There's nothing unusual about North Carolina and Notre Dame butting heads in the semifinals of the NCAA Women's College Cup.
What's different this time around, though, is that the Fighting Irish, at 23-0-1 the nation's lone remaining unbeaten, are the favorites. That's because powerhouse North Carolina, the team that has won 15 of the past 18 NCAA Championships, has stumbled a bit this year, losing three games for the first time since 1980. Notre Dame, meanwhile, overlooked by many when the season began, has quietly built its confidence and emerged as the team to beat. The two teams will meet in San Jose at 8 p.m. ET Friday in the first semifinal, with the winner meeting either Portland or UCLA at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday. Notre Dame coach Randy Waldrum, who watched from the sidelines last year as the Tar Heels defeated Notre Dame 2-0 in the NCAA championship game, contends that North Carolina is still solidly atop the throne of women's collegiate soccer. "I've said this all along, but until somebody can beat Carolina a couple years in a row, the Tar Heels are still the team to beat," said Waldrum, the leading candidate for national coach of the year honors. "It's going to be one great battle." Friday's matchup marks the fifth time the two teams have met in the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina has won all but one of those games. However, it was a regular-season game, in 1994, that jumpstarted this rivalry. That's when Notre Dame, in just its seventh year as a college program, ended untouchable North Carolina's 92-game winning streak with a 0-0 tie. The Tar Heels got their revenge in that year's title game, stomping the Irish 5-0. But a rivalry was born. "Absolutely, this is a good matchup for the game of women's collegiate soccer," Notre Dame goalkeeper Liz Wagner said. "With the U.S. national team, every time they face China or Norway, you know it's going to be a war. This is the same way. And it's great to play in." The year after North Carolina's 5-0 win, Notre Dame poured more kerosene on the flames, beating the Tar Heels 1-0 in the semifinals en route to one of just three NCAA titles that have been won by a school other than North Carolina. But this year, the Irish have an inside track at No. 4. Despite losing five starters (three of whom were All-Americans) from last season's team, Notre Dame has relied heavily on the strength of Wagner and four seniors to carry them to a near-perfect record. The facts and statistics showcased with this team are more typically associated with the team they will face Friday.
For example: Notre Dame presents quite the challenge for any team, even the defending national champions. After his team's 3-0 quarterfinal win over Connecticut, North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance said he didn't exactly look forward to playing his next opponent, whether it be the Irish or Santa Clara (Notre Dame ended up eliminating the Broncos in another quarterfinal). "They both present all kinds of problems," he said. "We're not excited about either matchup. And I'm being completely honest -- both can present possibly huge problems." North Carolina senior forward Meredith Florance, the MVP of the ACC tournament and the nation's third leading scorer, agrees. "Obviously, Notre Dame is a very athletic, strong team," she said. "The fact that they haven't lost to anyone this year speaks volumes. You can't just focus on one thing with them. All we can do is play or best, play our game. If we try to change things too much and focus too heavily on their system, we'll lose our main focus." Wagner and the senior scoring combination of Meotis Erikson and three-time All-American midfielder Anne Makinen have carried Notre Dame this season. The duo has combined for 11 goals on the season, including four in the postseason. "When you think of next year and not having those players, it makes you realize how special they are," Waldrum said. "They have embraced the concept of the team more than any group of seniors I've been around. They've set a high standard for work ethic and the way they carry themselves." Wagner, meanwhile, a junior, wasn't even assured a starting role prior to the season, yet she leads the nation with a .32 goals against average. Nothing would be sweeter, though, than a late-season win over the Tar Heels and a shot at the national title. "Revenge, of course, is on our minds," Wagner said. "Beating North Carolina is always a good thing. Of all the teams out there, this is our top choice, the one we want to beat the most." Wayne Drehs is a staff writer at ESPN.com. |
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