Women’s soccer loses to familiar foe in College Cup
By Matt Stevens
Dec. 5, 2008 8:06 p.m.
The UCLA women’s soccer team fell in the College Cup for a sixth straight year on Friday, 1-0 at the hands of North Carolina.
The loss ends the Bruins’ (22-1-2) hopes of bringing home the school’s first women’s soccer national championship, as well as their first undefeated season. The Tar Heels (24-1-2) will face off against Notre Dame in the title game on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Saturday marked the fourth time UCLA has been knocked out of the College Cup by North Carolina. The Bruins gave up only their sixth goal of the year in the loss, but it was enough.
The goal came late in the first half at the 40:14 mark on a penalty kick by UNC senior midfielder Yael Averbuch. The penalty kick was generated by a foul in the box committed by UCLA senior defender Erin Hardy. Hardy slid hard in an attempt to take the ball from Tar Heel freshman Brittani Bartok. Bartok took a hard spill, and a penalty kick was awarded to North Carolina.
On the ensuing penalty kick, Averbuch went low and right with her shot. Bruin goalkeeper Ashley Thompson guessed right and dove in the direction of the ball, but it zipped past her outstretched fingertips for the goal that decided the contest.
"I thought it was an outstanding game," coach Jill Ellis said. "I congratulate North Carolina and I wish them well. I’m just exceptionally proud of my team.”
