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North Carolina women beat defending champ FSU in College Cup

Associated Press
·2 min read
  • North Carolina's Aleigh Gambone (16) is congratulated on her goal against Florida State by Tori Dellaperuta, as teammates gather during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
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    NCAA North Carolina Florida St Soccer

    North Carolina's Aleigh Gambone (16) is congratulated on her goal against Florida State by Tori Dellaperuta, as teammates gather during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
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  • North Carolina players celebrate a goal by Aleigh Gambone against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
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    NCAA North Carolina Florida St Soccer

    North Carolina players celebrate a goal by Aleigh Gambone against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
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  • Florida State's Olivia Garcia (0) works between North Carolina's Emerson Elgin (6) and Aleigh Gambone, right for a ball during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
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    Florida State's Olivia Garcia (0) works between North Carolina's Emerson Elgin (6) and Aleigh Gambone, right for a ball during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
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  • Florida State's Emma Bissell (17) looks to pass the ball as North Carolina's Maggie Pierce (28) defends during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
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    NCAA North Carolina Florida St Soccer

    Florida State's Emma Bissell (17) looks to pass the ball as North Carolina's Maggie Pierce (28) defends during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
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  • North Carolina's Avery Patterson (15) moves the ball after taking it from Florida State's Heather Payne, left, during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
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    NCAA North Carolina Florida St Soccer

    North Carolina's Avery Patterson (15) moves the ball after taking it from Florida State's Heather Payne, left, during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
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  • North Carolina's Talia Dellaperuta, left, attempts a shot past Florida State's Ryan Iwai (7) during the second half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
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    North Carolina Florida St Soccer

    North Carolina's Talia Dellaperuta, left, attempts a shot past Florida State's Ryan Iwai (7) during the second half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
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  • Florida State's Beata Olsson (9) falls onto North Carolina's Tori Hansen during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
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    Florida State's Beata Olsson (9) falls onto North Carolina's Tori Hansen during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
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North Carolina's Aleigh Gambone (16) is congratulated on her goal against Florida State by Tori Dellaperuta, as teammates gather during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
North Carolina players celebrate a goal by Aleigh Gambone against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Florida State's Olivia Garcia (0) works between North Carolina's Emerson Elgin (6) and Aleigh Gambone, right for a ball during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Florida State's Emma Bissell (17) looks to pass the ball as North Carolina's Maggie Pierce (28) defends during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
North Carolina's Avery Patterson (15) moves the ball after taking it from Florida State's Heather Payne, left, during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
North Carolina's Talia Dellaperuta, left, attempts a shot past Florida State's Ryan Iwai (7) during the second half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Florida State's Beata Olsson (9) falls onto North Carolina's Tori Hansen during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Tori Hansen and Julia Dorsey scored seven minutes apart in the second half and North Carolina held off No. 1 overall seed Florida State 3-2 on Friday night in the semifinals of the NCAA Division I women’s soccer championship.

North Carolina (20-4-1), making its 31st College Cup appearance, is searching for its first title since 2012 when they were also a No. 2 seed. The Tar Heels have won 21 of the previous 40 national championships.

North Carolina took a 3-0 lead in the 66th minute when Dorsey headed home Emily Moxley’s free kick, but Onyi Echegini scored less than a minute later for her team-leading 11th goal of the season for Florida State.

The defending champions pulled within 3-2 in the 76th when Heather Payne headed Echegini’s cross through the legs of goalkeeper Emmie Allen.

Allen, a freshman, made a season-high nine saves to help North Carolina avenge a 2-1 loss to Florida State on Nov. 6 in the ACC championship game.

Aleigh Gambone scored her second goal of the season, first since Aug. 18, for North Carolina to open the scoring in the 42nd. Maddie Dahlien sent a deflected ball across the goal and a failed clearance attempt fell to the feet of Gambone at the penalty spot for a calm finish.

Hansen scored on a penalty kick in the 59th minute following a handball by Heather Gilchrist in the box. Hansen, the North Carolina captain, is 5 for 5 from the penalty spot this season and has eight goals.

Cristina Roque, the ACC goalkeeper of the year, made three saves for Florida State (17-3-3).

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