The North Carolina women's soccer team defeated the Clemson Tigers, 1-0, in the third round of the NCAA Tournament at Fetzer Field on Sunday.
What happened?
Sunday's matchup was just as tight as the first time the two sides faced off. Both teams had a handful of half-chances in the first 45 minutes, but neither team could break through.
UNC's best chance of the first half came in the fifth minute. After receiving the ball on a short corner, junior midfielder Buckingham lofted a cross to the far post. Sophomore Julia Ashley was waiting there, but opted to put a boot on the ball instead of her head and lifted it high over the bar.
Clemson almost struck first in the 27th minute, when redshirt senior Jenna Polonsky got to the ball in the Tar Heel box. She got off a shot, but it was saved by a North Carolina defender before it could fins the back of the net.
UNC controlled the game for the final 15 minutes of the first half but couldn't finish. The Tar Heels only outshot the Tigers, 7-6, in the first half, but looked like the more dangerous side in the first 45.
Clemson opened up the second half a little more aggressive, and it almost paid off in the 54th minute. After a long throw was cleared straight into the air, the Tigers' Allie Kington got her head on the ball, which beat UNC keeper Lindsey Harris but bounced off the left post and wide.
From there North Carolina started to build things up again, and it paid off in the 71st minute.
After jumping on a loose ball at the top of the box, sophomore midfielder Dorian Bailey took a few dribbles and unleashed a curler toward the top-left corner. The ball grazed the far post and bounced across goal and in to give UNC a 1-0 lead.
