Aug. 30, 2009
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
Defense ruled the day on both sides as No. 1-ranked North Carolina defeated UNC Greensboro 1-0 in women's soccer action at Fetzer Field Sunday afternoon. The Tar Heels got the goal they needed in the 57th minute from senior midfielder Nikki Washington in improving to 3-0. The contest was the last of four games played this weekend in the Carolina Nike Classic at Fetzer Field.
The Tar Heel defense posted its second consecutive clean sheet after posting a shutout victory over UCF on Friday night. The back line of Rachel Givan, Kristi Eveland and Whitney Engen played brilliantly in front of senior goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who recorded who first solo shutout since the 2007 season.
Carolina recorded 22 shots in the game but the only one that mattered came at 56:30 of the match when senior midfielder Nikki Washington scored her first goal of the season, assisted by Ali Hawkins and Meghan Klingenberg. After a corner kick by Casey Nogueira at the 56:18 mark, the Spartans' defense initially cleared the ball out. But Meghan Klingenberg gathered the ball in on the right side of the pitch and sent a cross to the far side of the penalty area. Ali Hawkins nodded the ball on to Washington who tapped it into the back of the goal on the left side.
UNCG (1-2) had its best chance to score in the last minute of the first half when the ball was pinged around in the box after a Spartan corner kick. The Tar Heels (3-0) had several good chances to score off corner kicks in the first half but sophomore Kelsey Kearney stood tall in the goal for the Spartans and finished with eight saves while allowing only the one goal.
Off the bench, freshman Alyssa Rich was an active presence on offense in the final 45 minutes. She just missed to the left side of the goal on a breakaway in the 65th minute and then had a back heel attempt turned away by Kearney in the 69th minute.
Carolina finished the 2009 Carolina Nike Classic with a record of 2-0, while UCF and UNC Greensboro both finished 1-1 and Duke finished 0-2. On Friday, UNCG defeated Duke 1-0 while Carolina defeated UCF 4-0. On Sunday, UCF upset the 11th-ranked Blue Devils 3-2 while Carolina turned back UNCG 1-0.
Carolina will play next weekend in the Inn at St. Mary's Soccer Classic in Notre Dame, Ind. UNC will play the host Fighting Irish on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and will then meet Marquette on Sunday morning at 11 a.m.
