Santa Clara had a clean sheet. Notre Dame viewed it as a clean slate. The Irish women’s soccer team erased the No. 1-ranked Broncos’ undefeated season with a single swipe Friday, jousting into Sunday’s NCAA championship game with a 1-0 upset of the local heroines.
The win, played before a tournament-record crowd of 14,006 in Spartan Stadium, set up a rematch of the 1996 final against North Carolina, won by the Tar Heels 1-0 in overtime.
“There’s no doubt in our minds that we can go all the way,” said Irish goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene, who made seven saves and kept her net pristine during several stretches of intense pressure by the Broncos.
Freshman forward Ali Lovelace scored in the 75th minute, notching her fourth goal of the postseason, to give Notre Dame (21-3-1) one of the biggest upsets in recent college soccer history. Santa Clara (23-1) did not trail in any game this season and had the added motivation of having lost in three straight semifinals.
The Irish defense, led by Hoffman Estates native Jen Grubb, a senior, stifled an attack that produced 108 goals this season.
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Santa Clara coach Jerry Smith shook his head in wonder over Notre Dame’s somewhat tortured path to the final.
The Irish won their third-round game when a Stanford player bounced a penalty kick off both posts; endured a four-overtime marathon against Nebraska in the quarterfinal; and prevailed against Santa Clara despite being outshot 17-3.
“They survived again,” Smith said. “That’s a powerful thing they can use in that game Sunday. But I think the stats will favor North Carolina.”
The Tar Heels (23-2) will be seeking theirs 15th NCAA women’s soccer title.
“This never gets old,” North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance said. “It’s always a lot of fun and we’re thrilled to be playing for another championship.”
The only time the Tar Heels have not appeared in the 18-year history of the NCAA title game was when Notre Dame defeated them in the semifinals en route to the 1995 title.
North Carolina beat Notre Dame 3-2 in its first game of the season.
“We’re a lot more organized in the back now,” said Notre Dame defender Kara Brown. “Maybe in that first game we were a little panicked.”
The Tar Heels have been extremely stingy on defense, allowing just 12 goals all season, including 17 shutouts by goalkeepers Jenni Branam and Kristin DePlatchett.
Freshman Kim Patrick leads North Carolina with 18 goals, but the Tar Heels don’t rely on one player. Anne Remy, Meredith Florance and Jena Kluegel have all scored at least 10 goals.
“We can’t look at it any differently,” said Notre Dame senior forward Jenny Heft, who has 20 goals. “Obviously North Carolina has a great defense. We have to break it down like any other game.”