Notre Dame Ousts Portland In Soccer Semis Irish, North Carolina To Play For Title

Nine-time champion North Carolina and defending champion Notre Dame will play for the NCAA women’s soccer title Sunday following semifinal victories.

Notre Dame overcame a two-goal halftime deficit to send Portland to its first loss of the season, 3-2, on Monica Gerardo’s go-ahead goal in the 61st minute Friday night.

North Carolina, which won nine straight titles from 1986-94, beat Santa Clara 2-1 on second-half goals by Cindy Parlow and Laurie Schwoy.

Notre Dame beat North Carolina 2-1 in overtime during the regular season. The Tar Heels, who won 12 of the previous 14 titles, routed the Irish 5-0 in the 1994 final.

Notre Dame (24-1), which hadn’t rallied from a two-goal deficit to win since 1988, beat Portland (19-1-2) in a rematch of last year’s title match - won 1-0 by the Fighting Irish.

Gerardo broke a 2-2 tie with her 23rd goal of the season, scoring on a dribbler from the top of the penalty area off an assist by Jen Grubb.

Portland got goals from Regina Holan in the second and 30th minutes. Sophomore Kim Stiles of Mead had scored the winner in the quarterfinals as the Pilots advanced to the semifinals.

Shannon Boxx scored in the 47th minute for Notre Dame on a header off an assist by Holly Manthei. Amy VanLaecke tied it in the 55th.

North Carolina (24-1) took a 1-0 lead in the 74th minute as Parlow connected off a cross from Nel Fettig, who also setup Schwoy in the 78th.

Jennifer Lalor scored on a penalty kick in the 84th for Santa Clara (18-4-2).

Tar Heels goalkeeper Siri Mullinix made a sliding save on Jacqui Little in the 40th minute to thwart Santa Clara’s most dangerous chance of the first half. In the 59th minute, Santa Clara goalkeeper Christina Sanchez tipped away a shot.