CARY, N.C. — Olivia Thomas scored a free throw in the 62nd minute for her fourth NCAA Tournament goal as North Carolina beat Wake Forest 1-0 on Monday night to win the program’s first national championship since 2012.
North Carolina (22-5-0) has won 22 of 43 NCAA women’s soccer titles. The Tar Heels also won the AIAW title in 1981, winning a total of 23 national championships. No other women’s soccer team has won more than four wins.
Wake Forest (16-4-4) appeared in the championship game for the first time in program history. The Demon Deacons were seeking just their 11th national championship in school history. UNC has 51 NCAA team championships in eight sports.
Thomas drew three defenders and was brought down just outside the box by Dempsey Brown, who received a yellow card. Thomas found a gap in the wall and passed goalkeeper Valentina Amaral for his ninth goal of the season.
Interim head coach Damon Nahas is the second coach in NCAA women’s soccer history to win a national championship in his first year as head coach, and joins UCLA’s Margueritte Aozas in 2022.
North Carolina has made its 32nd appearance in the College Cup, including five of the last seven. No other team played in more than 14 games. UNC entered the national title game for the 28th time and finished second six times.
It was the first title game to feature two North Carolina State teams since 1992, when North Carolina defeated Duke 9-1.
