UNC claims soccer crown again

Casey Nogueira (center-left) is the focus of a happy scrum after scoring the winning goal against Notre Dame with 2:06 left. (jim bounds/Associated Press)

Casey Nogueira scored two second-half goals, including the winner with 2:06 remaining, and North Carolina defeated Notre Dame, 2-1, yesterday in the championship game of the NCAA Women's College Cup in Cary, N.C.

The Tar Heels (25-1-2) overcame the fastest goal in Notre Dame history to win their 19th women's soccer championship in the 27-year history of the tournament and deny the Fighting Irish's bid for their first undefeated season.

Nogueira, who had a goal and an assist in UNC's 2-1 victory over Notre Dame in the 2006 championship game, tied yesterday's game on a free kick in the 52d minute. She put the Tar Heels ahead to stay with a shot from the left flank that sailed over goalkeeper Kelsey Lysander and into the right side of the net.

Kerri Hanks gave Notre Dame (26-1-0) the early lead, finding the back of the net 16 seconds into the game.

Women's basketball

UMass 64, Brown 41 - Stephanie Gerardot was 6 of 10 from beyond the arc and had 22 points as the Minutewomen (4-4) rolled over the Bears (1-7) to win the Brown Classic in Providence.

Delaware 55, Maine 40 - Ariene Jenkins led the host Blue Hens (4-3) with 12 points as the Black Bears fell to 2-5 despite 10 points from Samantha Baranowski.

Lafayette 64, Bryant 57 - LaKeisha Wright scored 19 points as the Panthers (4-5) rallied from a 3-point halftime deficit to beat the visiting Bulldogs (3-5).

American 77, URI 58 - Nicole Ryan (17 points) was 5 for 8 from 3-point range to power the host Eagles (6-3) past the Rams (3-5).

Texas Christian 82, California 73 - Rachel Rentschler scored 16 of her 24 points in the first half and also grabbed 10 rebounds, and the No. 22 Lady Frogs (8-2) beat the third-ranked Bears (7-1) to win the Colliers Classic in Berkeley, Calif.

Pittsburgh 86, Maryland 57 - Shavonte Zellous scored 20 of her 26 points in the second half to lead the No. 24 Panthers (6-1) to an upset of the No. 8 Terrapins (7-2) at Pittsburgh.

Texas 74, Mississippi 50 - Brittainey Raven scored 16 points to lead four Longhorns in double figures as No. 9 Texas (8-0) triumphed in Oxford, Miss.

Texas A&M 80, SMU 48 - Takia Starks scored 21 points to lead the No. 5 Aggies (8-0) past the Mustangs at College Station, Texas.

Notre Dame 62, Purdue 51 - Melissa Lechlitner scored a career-high 19 points and Kellie Watson added 13 as the No. 11 Irish (7-0) overcame a slow start to beat the No. 17 Boilermakers (5-3) at South Bend, Ind.

Duke 60, Michigan 45 - Chante Black had 13 points and the No. 12 Blue Devils (6-1) overcame 30 turnovers to beat the visiting Wolverines (5-4).

Louisville 82, Ball State 51 - Angel McCaughtry scored 21 points, including 10 straight during a run in the second half, to lead the No. 13 Cardinals (7-1) at Louisville.

Auburn 64, Liberty 53 - Sherell Hobbs scored 5 of her 20 points during an 11-0 run in the second half and the No. 14 Tigers (10-0) pulled away from a 41-all tie to beat the Lady Flames (1-6).

St. Bonaventure 63, Michigan St. 52 - Katelyn Murray scored a career-high 25 points and made five 3-pointers to lead the Bonnies (6-1) to an upset of the No. 21 Spartans (6-3) at Olean, N.Y.

Men's basketball

Louisville 91, Ohio 56 - Point guard Earl Clark had 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists as the 11th-ranked Cardinals (4-1) dominated the Bobcats in the Maybin Classic in Louisville.

Oklahoma 69, Tulsa 44 - Blake Griffin had 19 points and nine rebounds, and Willie Warren and Tony Crocker added 12 points each as the No. 6 Sooners (8-0) rolled to victory at Tulsa.

UCLA 85, Northridge St. 67 - Josh Shipp scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half and the 12th-ranked Bruins (5-2) routed the visiting Matadors (1-6).

Michigan St. 75, Bradley 59 - Chris Allen's 19 points led the No. 13 Spartans at East Lansing, Mich.

Florida St. 57, Florida 55 - Ryan Reid scored 4 of his 13 points in the final 1:20 and the host Seminoles (8-1) beat the No. 23 Gators (6-2) despite shooting 31 percent from the field.

Stony Brook 90, Mount Ida 45 - Muhammad El-Amin scored 18 of his 22 points in the first half to lead the Seawolves (5-3) to a rout of the Division 3 Mustangs (5-3), who were led by Johrone Bunch's 12 points.

Men's hockey

Maine 3, Merrimack 2 - Gustav Nyquist, Tanner House, and Brett Carriere had goals for the Black Bears (8-5-1, 5-4-1), who jumped out to a 2-0 and held off a surge by the Warriors (4-8-3, 2-7-2) in a Hockey East game at North Andover.