UNC women's soccer advances to national championship game led by front three

CARY — Maddie Dahlien remembers what she told teammate Kate Faasse at halftime. 

“Kate, I’m going to be there if you whip a cross in.”

UNC was already up 2-0 exiting the first half in the College Cup semifinals against Duke. Still, in the 59th minute on Friday night, Olivia Thomas won the second ball in the middle of the park after a goal kick from goalkeeper Clare Gagne. The junior forward carried it into the Duke half and held it up before playing Faasse on the right wing. The forward looked toward the penalty area where she saw Dahlien making a run toward the spot. Faasse whipped in the cross, and Dahlien was there. 

Dahlien’s first touch was good. She controlled the ball, sorted her feet and squared up her defender 12 yards from goal. She took one touch to her right and shot across her body with her right foot. Duke's goalkeeper Leah Freeman had no chance.

“Her composure to set it aside and tuck it in, that’s a world-class finish," interim head coach Damon Nahas said.

The lethal and dynamic front three of Thomas, Faasse and Dahlien combined to provide North Carolina's third goal — the death blow — in its 3-0 win over the rival Blue Devils to advance to the program’s 28th national championship match on Monday. It was the fourth meeting between UNC and Duke this season. Duke won the first two in the regular season, but UNC has won the last two in the ACC tournament and the College Cup. The Tar Heels are undefeated all-time against the Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament, winning all four matches.

The trio up top for the Tar Heels dominated, scoring all three goals and tallying one each. Friday was the first time Duke conceded a goal in the NCAA tournament this year. 

“I just wanted them to be aggressive, confident,” Nahas said. “I want them to be the players that are willing to make as much as miss it. And not be worried about that and go from good to great.”

Thomas, Faasse and Dahlien have only started 11 of UNC’s 26 matches together this season. Thomas missed over a month with an injury, and Dahlien missed nine games while she was away with the U-20 U.S. National Team.

Nahas said it was a challenge integrating the two back into the lineup. 

“It took a little time for us to get the pieces together,” Faasse said.

UNC was disjointed in attack during the first half of the second round of the NCAA tournament against Santa Clara. Nahas said he wanted Thomas and Faasse to be more connected. In the second half, they were. Nahas felt it was an important step in their relationship on the pitch even though they missed several good chances in that game. 

He watched them walk off the field together after a narrow 1-0 victory.

“That is as valuable as the win,” he said.

Nahas made sure Thomas and Dahlien knew their roles. Dahlien is the focal point of the UNC attack with the ball at her feet and Thomas is a strong striker, who can make explosive runs in behind. Faasse brings a little bit of both skill sets, combined with clinical finishing in front of goal. 

And it all came together in the College Cup.

In the 10th minute Friday, Dahlien picked up the ball on the left wing and darted into the penalty area. She touched the ball past Duke defender Nicky Chico, who stuck out a leg and chopped her down. 

Nahas said Dahlien “terrorizes” teams. Of UNC’s 10 spot kick goals, Dahlien has drawn six of them. 

Faasse stepped up and coolly converted the penalty into the top corner. With 20 goals on the year, she is the nation’s outright top scorer.

Fourteen minutes later, UNC ramped up its counter press and won the ball near midfield. Defender Bella Gaetino played a perfect first-time ball over the top for Thomas, who used her strength to get behind her defender in on goal. Freeman came off her line, but Thomas finished with poise into the bottom-right corner.

“That was the best game she’s played all season,” Dahlien said about Thomas.

All three produced the clincher in the second half.  It finally culminated on the biggest stage.

“Now we’re gelled,” Faasse said. “We have dialogue, and we have confidence in each other.”

The comfort and confidence could not have come at a better time. With one more game to win. For a 23rd national championship. 

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