Clemson Falls to North Carolina in Conference Semifinal

Nov. 3, 2006

CARY, N.C. – North Carolina used a goal and an assist by senior Elizabeth Guess to advance to Sunday’s championship game of the ACC Women’s Soccer Tournament with a 3-0 victory over the Clemson Tigers Friday evening at the SAS Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C. The Tar Heels would score the eventual game-winner just 1:22 into the match and then add two late goals in the final 10 minutes to move UNC into the finals for the 19th time in the tournament’s 19 years of existence.

North Carolina got on the board first scoring in the second minute of play off a goal by senior Elizabeth Guess. The Tar Heels were on the offensive attack right from the start getting a corner kick at the 1:04 mark in the first half. Jaime Gilbert redirected a Nikki Washington corner toward the end line where Heather O’Reilly headed the shot in front of the net. Guess was there to one-time the header from O’Reilly into the back of the net for an early 1-0 Tar Heel lead. The goal was Guess’ seventh career tally in ACC Tournament history moving her into a tie for fifth all-time with former Tar Heel Alyssa Ramsey.

Although the Tar Heels controlled offensive play for a good portion of the first half outscoring the Tigers 14-0, the score remained 1-0 at the half. North Carolina held the corner kick advantage 2-0, while Clemson’s Ashley Phillips made five saves in net.

North Carolina looked to extend its lead in the 54th minute as Whitney Engen’s attempt for her third goal of the tournament sailed high. Jessica Maxwell sent the Tar Heel free kick into the box where Engen’s header attempt went high over the crossbar.

Guess just missed on her second goal of the evening in the 61st minute as she blasted a shot from 18 yards out into the side of the net.

Clemson had its best scoring chance of the evening in the 73rd minute as Fraser Gerth miss fired on an empty net attempt. Tar Heel goalkeeper Anna Rodenbough went to clear the ball out of the UNC box, but the ball landed in front of Gerth just outside the box.

The Tar Heels would tact on two late goals in the final 10 minutes to solidify the victory. Robyn Gayle scored her second goal of the season off a series of passes beating the Tiger keeper to the far post. Engen and Washington registered an assist on the play.

Exactly five minutes later in the 86th minute, North Carolina would score the final goal of the evening off a header by O’Reilly. Guess sent a cross from the end line into the box where Engen headed the ball to O’Reilly who headed the ball into the back of the net for a 3-0 UNC advantage. The two assists by Engen on the evening were her fifth and sixth points of the Tournament to lead all players.

The win moves North Carolina to 20-1-0 on the season and into the finals for the 19th consecutive time, where they will face the winner of Florida State/Wake Forest on Sunday, November 5 at 3:35 pm. With the loss, Clemson falls to 11-7-2.

A web cast replay of this match is available online through ACC Select at www.theacc.com.

Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assists1 1:22 NC Elizabeth Guess (2) Heather O’Reilly, Jaime Gilbert2 80:28 NC Robyn Gayle (2) Whitney Engen, Nikki Washington3 85:28 NC Heather O’Reilly (8) Whitney Engen, Elizabeth Guess

Shots: North Carolina 26, Clemson 2Corners: North Carolina 6, Clemson 0Saves: North Carolina 0, Clemson 7