North Carolina facing Florida State in Women’s College Cup Final
(Via NCAA) – The 2018 DI women’s soccer College Cup national championship will be held in Cary, North Carolina on Dec. 2. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET for the nationally televised match on ESPNU and on the ESPN+ live streaming platform.
No. 1 North Carolina earned a bid to the championship game for the 26th time in program history by taking down the previously unbeaten Georgetown Hoyas in the first semifinal match at WakeMed Soccer Park. Florida State also punched a ticket to the national championship game by defeating defending national champions Stanford 2-0. The title game will be a rematch of the ACC final from earlier this fall.
GAME. WINNER.#WCollegeCup pic.twitter.com/is1sN0rpq2
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 1, 2018
| MATCHUP | DATE/TIME | |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina vs. Florida State | December 2 at 1 p.m. ET |
MORE: Championship History | Tickets | Interactive Bracket
North Carolina (20-3-1) advanced finals after captain Julia Ashley notched a double-overtime goal against Georgetown. The win marks Ashley’s sixth of the season.
This is also the second consecutive tournament game that has gone to extra time for the Tar Heels, but they remain anchored behind consistent goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak who currently leads the country with the lowest goals against average at .307. She added to her impressive season on Friday with another shutout against the Cardinal.
+READ: Nominees set for U.S Young Male, Young Female Player of the Year
In the second semifinal game on Friday night, Florida State shutout the No. 1 ranked team in the country behind goals from Gabby Carle and Malia Berkeley. Carle, who was the NCAA’s Elite 90 winner, put the Seminoles up early, notching her first goal of the season in the process. Berkeley’s goal later in the first half gave the Seminoles the insurance goal that they needed to play comfortably against Stanford for the duration of the semifinal. Team point leader Deyna Castellanos earned an assist on Berkely’s goal, and she will be a dangerous threat against the Tar Heels. The battle between North Carolina’s balanced offense and Florida State’s explosive defense will make the 2018 College Cup finals a can’t-miss game.
Relive the moments that sent the Noles to the National Championship!
✅ Fourth time heading to NCAA Final
✅ Ended the Cardinal 45-match unbeaten streak
✅ Two goals from FSU backline
✅ Held Stanford to one shot on goal
✅ Third win over #1 in school history pic.twitter.com/j5gUr6dUDn— FSU Soccer (@FSUSoccer) December 1, 2018
