Samanta Mewis and UCLA are headed to the College Cup. (Photo Copyright Steve Bruno for The Equalizer)
UCLA is headed to the College Cup after defeating defending champions North Carolina 1-0 in double overtime of the NCAA women’s soccer tournament quarterfinals on Saturday. Taylor Smith scored the game-winning goal in the 102nd minute, just after the start of the second overtime.
The result was marred by a scary injury in the 100th minute that saw UNC midfielder and New Zealand international Katie Bowen go down with an injury that left her motionless. She was stretchered off into an ambulance after approximately 20 minutes on the ground.
UPDATE: A North Carolina official tells The Equalizer that Bowen suffered a concussion and was taken to the hospital. She was released and is “doing better” on Sunday, but no further details were provided. Bowen tweeted on Sunday night:
Thank you to everyone for your prayers and thoughts. I got a concussion and strained my neck but I am okay. Well done to UCLA. #TFLF
— Katie Bowen (@Kati3bowen) December 2, 2013
UCLA joins Virginia, Virginia Tech and Florida State in the College Cup next weekend in Cary. N.C. UCLA will play No. 1 overall seed Virginia in one semifinal, while ACC foes VaTech and FSU face off in the other semifinal. North Carolina could have made the College Cup an all-ACC affair with a win over UCLA.
Crystal Dunn came off the bench for UNC after sustaining a leg injury early in the Tar Heels’ third round win over Texas A&M.
UCLA have never won a women’s soccer championship. The Bruins have appeared in three finals, the last in 2005. None of the final four teams have ever won a national title.
Postgame, UNC coach Anson Dorance told reporters that Bowen was unconscious for a period of time:
Anson Dorrance said Katie Bowen was unconscious for a time but was moving by time ambulance left. Efforts were precautionary. Wish her well.
— Graham Hays (@grahamhays) December 1, 2013
