Tar Heels rally

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Ninth-ranked North Carolina rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat No. 18 Notre Dame 3-2 Saturday night before a crowd of 2,024 fans at Alumni Stadium.

Midfielder Kat Nigro scored the winning goal for the Tar Heels 27 seconds into the second overtime period, the second goal of her career. She finished an opportunity from 12-yards out, off a long cross from Cameron Castleberry. Joanna Boyles also assisted on the goal. North Carolina has now played in fourovertime games this season.

Trailing 2-0 at the half, North Carolina (4-2-1) got back in the game with a goal by Castleberry, her first of the season and third of her career.  She took a pass from Emily Bruder, dribbled through a hole in the defense and scored past Notre Dame goalkeeper Kaela Little in the 60th minute.

UNC drew equal in the 76th minute when Boyles scored her second career goal on a free kick from 24-yards out.

The two teams were kept off the scoreboard in the final minutes of regulation and the first 10-minute period before the Tar Heels capitalized in the overtime. Castleberry sent a cross that skimmed past a sliding Notre Dame defender at the 12-yard line to Nigro who finished the shot.

UNC finished with an 18-10 advantage in shots and both teams took four corner kicks. Kaela Little made five saves for Notre Dame and Bryane Heaberlin had two saves for UNC.

Notre Dame falls to 5-3-1 on the season.