Penn State Goalkeeper's Solid Game Not Enough

Sure, the Penn State senior goalkeeper is a two-time All-American. And sure, she has a net full of other accomplishments, like being named the team's most valuable player and first-team

all-Big Ten for the past three years.

But on Sept. 9, the Tar Heels solved Oleksiuk, winning 3-0 at Fetzer Field.

And with Friday's rematch against UNC, there was even more pressure on Oleksiuk in the fourth round of the NCAA Tournament.

She found that out quickly.

In the first 20 minutes, North Carolina fired seven shots at Oleksiuk. UNC freshman Sara Randolph pounded one of them into the back of the net.

But other than two shots that clanged off the posts, Oleksiuk gobbled up the rest of UNC's blasts. The Tar Heels scored on only two of 16 shot attempts.

"We have so much respect for her that very rarely do we make any adjustments in our practice to play a team," said UNC coach Anson Dorrance. "But we spent most of yesterday's practice solving her presence. And that's a wonderful compliment to her."

To prepare for Oleksiuk, the Tar Heels worked in practice on shot selection and ball movement around the net.

Dorrance said the only other player that North Carolina ever specifically prepared for was former Central Florida star Michelle Akers.

"Corner kicks she dominated, balls that crossed the flank she dominated; she didn't drop a thing," said Dorrance of Oleksiuk. "And she was pulling balls off the heads of our kids under pressure. She certainly lived up to the billing that we prepared our kids for."

Oleksiuk broke up a number of North Carolina's corner kick threats by leaving the net and snagging the ball out of the air. She attacked the ball even in tight quarters with UNC's pressure.

But in the end, the nation's No. 1 team ended Oleksiuk's collegiate soccer career. It was the second time UNC knocked Oleksiuk out of the tourney. "It's frustrating getting knocked out twice by the same team, but they're an extremely talented team," she said. "So it's not a disgrace being knocked out by them."

UNC won the match on a fluke goal in the 80th minute. Oleksiuk's clearing kick deflected off of Alyssa Ramsey and took two bounces before it found the net.

"I thought she (Oleksiuk) was outstanding today," PSU coach Paula Wilkins said. "She's one of the reasons why we stayed in the game. It was probably the best game she played all year. It's sort of depressing that it ended that way after her having to make some brilliant saves. It's not right."

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.