If a women’s soccer contest between North Carolina and Notre Dame does not conjure up images befitting the fiercest of rivalry matches, consider this: For the fourth consecutive year, either the Tar Heels or the Fighting Irish will be responsible for ending the other’s season.
The tradition continues Saturday at Fetzer Field, where first-seeded UNC hosts the fourth-seeded Fighting Irish for a spot in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
And if recent history is any guide, another gripping contest is in order.
After winning three of the past four postseason meetings between the two, UNC has gone on to win that season’s national title. Four of the pair’s past five matchups have also been decided by one goal.
“It’s going to be a tough game. We know that, and they know that,” UNC coach Anson Dorrance said.
“But it’s an opportunity for us to play them in Chapel Hill. That’s certainly an advantage. We’re hoping the fact that it’s here will give us a bit of an edge, but it’ll certainly be a rip-roaring game.”
The Tar Heels have had the upper hand in the series of late, topping Notre Dame 2-1 in both the 2006 and 2008 national title games and 1-0 in last year’s national semifinal match.
But in 2007, the last time the two faced off in the NCAA third round, Notre Dame upset UNC 3-2 to send the Tar Heels home early.
This season, the two meet in the third round of the NCAA Tournament with top-seeded UNC and its top-ranked scoring offense facing the fourth-seeded Fighting Irish, whose stingy defense has kept opponents off the scoreboard in 12 of 21 games.
