High Point Women’s Soccer Draws North Carolina in NCAA Tournament

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s soccer team will face No. 1 seed North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, it was announced on Monday. The game will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park’s Koka Booth Stadium in Cary, N.C.

High Point (13-7-1) is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 and is participating for the sixth time in program history. The Panthers were crowned co-champions of the Big South after going 7-1 against conference foes in the regular season. HPU then defeated Winthrop (2-0), Campbell (3-1), and Longwood (1-0) to earn the tournament title for the sixth time. This marks the second time in program history that High Point has won both the regular season and tournament championships in the same year.

It’s the fourth trip for head coach Marty Beall, joining the 2009, 2010, and 2014 teams. HPU is searching for its first-ever NCAA tournament win in program history.

North Carolina (15-2-2) won the ACC Tournament Championship on Sunday, defeating Duke, 1-0. It was the first ACC title for UNC since 2009 and 21st overall since 1988. North Carolina has won 21 National Championships, most recently in 2012. The Tar Heels advanced to the Final Four a year ago before falling against West Virginia. UNC has qualified for every NCAA Tournament since its inception in 1982 and has at least advanced to the Round of 32 every year. Carolina holds a 125-12-3 mark all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

The Panthers and Tar Heels have met three times in the NCAA Tournament in 2003, 2007, and 2009. Most recently, the No. 4 Tar Heels defeated High Point, 1-0, in the first round in 2009 en route to a National Championship. HPU held UNC off the board until the 68th minute in the match.

Tickets for Saturday’s game can be purchased in advance through the GoHeels.com Ticket Center. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and senior citizens and $3 for group tickets. Gates will open Saturday at 12 noon. Saturday’s game will be streamed live on the ACC Network Extra.