SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Paige Nielsen scored her fourth game-winning goal of the season and Summer Green had a goal and an assist to give fifth-ranked North Carolina a 2-1 overtime victory at Syracuse on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, Carolina staked its claim to a share of the Atlantic Coastal Conference regular season championship with Florida State as both teams finished 9-0-1 in the standings. This marks Carolina's first ACC regular season title since 2010 when it won it outright.
UNC finishes its regular season at 12-2-2 and 9-0-1 in the ACC. Syracuse's season came to an end with a 5-10-4 record and a 2-7-1 mark in the conference.
The Tarheels took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute on a goal from Summer Green, who slotted home a shot from just inside the 18-yard box.
Syracuse would eventually take advantage of Carolina's failure to tack on a second goal when Maya Pitts scored from the right side of the box from eight yards out past Tar Heel goalkeeper Lindsey Harris in the 72nd minute. Stephanie Skilton had the ball in the middle of the penalty area and slipped a pass to Pitts, who finished into the left side of the net.
Neither team was able to generate much offense in the final 17 minutes of regulation but Carolina would not be denied, however, in extra time, as it improved to 3-1-2 in overtime this season.
At the 95:44 mark, Nielsen took a pass from Green in the right side of the box and finished into the left corner to give the Tar Heels the victory.
The Tar Heels outshot the Orange 12-3 on the day and had a 5-3 edge in corner kicks. Brosnan finished with four saves for the Orange.
With the win, Carolina improved to 9-2 in games decided by one goal this season. Carolina will now prepare for the 2014 ACC Women's Soccer Championship that will be played Friday and Sunday at the UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina.
