CARY — Virginia Tech's magical ACC Tournament run came to an end Sunday afternoon at the hands of the ultimate juggernaut.
The North Carolina women's soccer team is once again the class of the ACC as UNC beat the Hokies 3-0 to wrap up the ACC title in WakeMed Soccer Park.
This marks the 19th ACC tournament championship for the Tar Heels in its 21-year span and UNC's fourth consecutive championship.
The Tar Heels improved their all-time ACC Tournament record to 54-0-3 with their two eliminations coming by way of penalty kicks.
Six Tar Heels were named to the All-Tournament team with Jessica McDonald Tobin Heath Meghan Klingenberg Whitney Engen and Nikki Washington joining Tournament MVP Casey Nogueira on the squad.
Unranked Virginia Tech was the first team ranked below sixth in the conference to win a game in the ACC Tournament opening the tournament with a shocking upset of national No. 5 Florida State on penalty kicks after a scoreless draw. FSU was the second seed in the tournament behind the Tar Heels.
The Hokies followed that up in the next round by downing No. 12 Virginia" also in penalty kicks.
""They didn't need to beat us" coach Anson Dorrance said. They only needed to tie it because with PKs" that's the way they've advanced through this tournament.""
The winning margin for the Tar Heels was provided by McDonald"" whose 18th-minute header off a Yael Averbuch corner found the back of the net to start the Tar Heels' scoring.
""I was actually expecting for (my header) to get to one of my teammates" not even score McDonald said.
I don't really look to score on corners but it went in" and it was exhilarating.""
Nogueira capitalized on an oversight by Virginia Tech which left her one-on-one with the goalkeeper"" calmly slotting the shot inside the near post to clinch this year's tournament scoring title and provide some insurance.
""I just remember seeing a bunch of wide-open space" and I was like" ‘Where are they?'"" Nogueira said.
Courtney Jones converted a breakaway with 11 seconds left in the game to round out the scoring.
The platoon of Anna Rodenbough and Ashlyn Harris each played 45 minutes in goal. They combined for their fourth consecutive shutout to seal the game"" and they only needed two saves to get it.
""They don't get the glory because they're splitting shutouts between two goalkeepers" Dorrance said.
At the end of the day if there are no balls in the back of the net" they're both happy.""
Senior Averbuch started in her 99th consecutive game.
While she won't surpass Robin Confer's games played record at 107" she will tie the UNC record for most games started in a row if she takes the field for her 101st consecutive start in the NCAA's second round.
The seedings for the NCAA Tournament will be released today and the No. 4 Tar Heels figure to record a favorable seed entering the tournament" where they will be looking for their 19th NCAA title.
""I'm just proud of all of my teammates and really happy that we're all in this together"" "" Nogueira said.
""We're all fighting for each other and the dynasty — no" not dynasty" tradition — continues.""
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
ACC Champs (Again)
No. 4 North Carolina took home its fourth straight and 19th overall ACC Championship on Sunday. The Tar Heels out-scored tournament opponents 6-0 and have a 12-0-1 record against the conference this season. The NCAA tournament seedings are announced tonight.
