Soccer Tejas
CARY, N.C. – The University of North Carolina Tar Heels won 1-0 over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the 2024 NCAA Women’s College Cup Final at WakeMed Soccer Park, earning the program’s 23rd national championship.
Sophomore Olivia Thomas delivered a free-kick goal in the 61st minute to provide the match-winning goal in a tightly contested final. It marked the player’s fourth of the tournament.
The UNC defense earned its fifth shutout in six games. Goalkeeper Clare Gagne made three saves to deliver a clean sheet in the championship game.
Thomas was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Gagne was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
The latest conquest marks North Carolina’s 23rd national title in women’s soccer, 22 in the NCAA, and the 1981 AIAW title, and the first since the 2012 season.
The University of North Carolina now has 51 NCAA team championships across eight different sports. This is UNC’s 62nd overall national championship.
Interim head coach Damon Nahas became the second NCAA women’s soccer coach to win a national championship in their first year as a head coach, joining UCLA’s Margueritte Aozasa from 2022. Legendary coach Anson Dorrance announced his retirement after 47 seasons earlier this year.
