North Carolina Defeats Wake Forest 1-0 to Claim NCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship
North Carolina secured its first NCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship since 2012, defeating Wake Forest 1-0 on Monday night. The historic win marked the Tar Heels’ 22nd NCAA women’s soccer title, a testament to their dominance in the sport. The match, held in a high-stakes atmosphere, saw Olivia Thomas emerge as the hero with a sensational free-kick goal in the 62nd minute.
North Carolina entered the game as the most decorated program in NCAA women’s soccer history, and they lived up to their reputation. With this victory, the Tar Heels have now won 22 of the 43 NCAA women’s soccer championships since the tournament began. Adding their 1981 AIAW title, North Carolina’s total national championships in women’s soccer rise to 23, far surpassing any other program. For comparison, no other women’s soccer team has more than four national championships to its name.
Wake Forest, meanwhile, made history by reaching the championship game for the first time in its program’s history. The Demon Deacons were chasing their 11th national championship across all sports. Although they fell short, their remarkable season set a new standard for the program and solidified their place among elite college soccer teams.
The game’s defining moment came when Olivia Thomas was fouled just outside the 18-yard box by Wake Forest’s Dempsey Brown in the 62nd minute. Brown’s challenge resulted in a yellow card, setting the stage for Thomas’s moment of brilliance. Despite the pressure, Thomas delivered with precision, curling her free kick through a gap in the defensive wall and past Wake Forest goalkeeper Valentina Amaral. The goal was Thomas’s fourth of the NCAA Tournament and ninth of the season, showcasing her critical role in North Carolina’s championship run.
Thomas’s performance throughout the tournament was instrumental, and her decisive goal on Monday night underscored her ability to shine in clutch moments. With this victory, she has further cemented her place as one of the standout players of the season.
Interim head coach Damon Nahas also made history with the win, becoming only the second coach in NCAA women’s soccer history to secure a national championship in their first year as head coach. He joins Margueritte Aozasa, who accomplished the feat with UCLA in 2022. Nahas’s leadership throughout the season and ability to guide the Tar Heels to their 32nd College Cup appearance were pivotal in North Carolina’s success.
The Tar Heels have set numerous records in NCAA women’s soccer, including the most College Cup appearances (32) and national title game appearances (28). Their six runner-up finishes are a testament to their consistent excellence over the years. Monday’s victory further solidified their legacy as the premier program in the history of collegiate women’s soccer.
For Wake Forest, this championship game appearance marks a significant milestone. The Demon Deacons’ remarkable season and their journey to the national title game demonstrate their growing strength as a program. Facing a powerhouse like North Carolina in their first championship final was no small feat, and their performance this season will undoubtedly inspire future success.