2022 NCAA Division I women's soccer championship game

2022 NCAA Division I women's soccer championship game
WakeMed Soccer Park hosted the match
Event2022 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament
North Carolina UCLA
ACC Pac-12
2 3
(after extra time)
Date5 December 2022
VenueWakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, NC
RefereeSamantha Martinez
Attendance9,531
← 2021
2023 →

The 2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer championship game (also known as the 2023 NCAA Division I Women's College Cup) was played on December 4, 2023, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, and determined the winner of the 2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament, the national collegiate women's soccer championship in the United States. This was the 41st. edition of this tournament organised by the NCAA.[1]

The match featured North Carolina (20–4–1),[2] which played its 27th. final, and UCLA, which made its 6th. appearance in the final. UCLA made a historic comeback[3] to defeat North Carolina 3–2 and win their second NCAA women's soccer title.[1][4]

UCLA forced the extra time scoring two goals with only 10 minutes remaining. The winning goal was scored by Graduate midfielder Maricarmen Reyes in the 107'.[5] UCLA (which had reached the final with a 22–2–1 record) also became the first women's soccer program in the NCAA history to win a national championship with a first-year head coach.[3][1] This championship became the 120th. title in UCLA athletics program history.[5][2]

North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance praised UCLA, and stated about the game: "This is one of the greatest finals I've personally ever been involved in" (...) up and back, lots of goals, overtime, the drama of sport — one team goes up, the other one claws their way back."[3]

Road to the final

Further information: 2022 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament

The NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament, sometimes known as the College Cup, is an American intercollegiate soccer tournament conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and determines the Division I women's national champion. The tournament has been formally held since 1982, when it was a twelve-team tournament.

North Carolina (ACC) Round UCLA (Pac-12)
Opponent Result NCAA Tournament Opponent Result
Old Dominion (ACC) 5–0 (H) First round Northern Arizona (BSC) 4–1 (A)
Georgia (SEC) 3–1 (H) Second round UCF (Big 12) 1–1 (3–0 p) (A)
BYU (Big 12) 3–2 (H) Round of 16 Northwestern (Big Ten) 2–0 (A)
Notre Dame (ACC) 2–0 (H) Quarterfinal Virginia (ACC) 2–1 (A)
Florida State (ACC) 3–2 (N) College Cup Alabama (SEC) 3–0 (N)

Match details

2022 College Cup Final
North Carolina2–3 (a.e.t.)UCLA
Patterson 59', 75' Report Wright 80'
Turner 89'
Reyes 107'
Attendance: 9,531
Referee: Samantha Martinez

College Cup MVP
Offensive:
Defensive:

Assistant referees:
Kate Wasiak (United States)
Tiffini Turpin (United States)
Fourth official:
Mark Kadlecik (United States)

Match rules:

  • 90 minutes.
  • 20 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Unlimited substitutes, may not return if subbed out in the first half; may return unlimited times in the second half.

Statistics

Overall
North
Carolina 		UCLA
Goals scored 2 3
Total shots 13 20
Saves 9 5
Corner kicks 4 9
Fouls 9 22
Yellow cards 3 2
Red cards 0 0

References

  1. ^ a b c UCLA wins the 2022 national championship in an all-time classic, 3–2 in 2OT on NCAA, 5 Dec 2022
  2. ^ a b UCLA Women's Soccer Beats UNC in College Cup Final, Wins NCAA Title by Sam Connon on Sports Illustrated, 5 Dec 2022
  3. ^ a b c UCLA women’s soccer pulls off miracle comeback over North Carolina for NCAA title BY EM ADLER on Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec 2022
  4. ^ UCLA crowned NCAA National Champions to wrap 2022 Pac-12 Women’s Soccer season on Pac 12 Conference, 7 Dec 2023
  5. ^ a b UCLA storms back, wins second NCAA women’s soccer title UCLA Newsroom, 6 Dec 2022