UConn's women's soccer team finished its best season ever at the national championship game December 7. Although the Huskies suffered a 2-0 loss to North Carolina, they set a team record with 23 wins this season.

"We are extremely proud of our women's soccer program," said Jeff Hathaway, senior associate director of athletics, "for the tremendous success they achieved this season, advancing to the NCAA National Championship game."

Played in front of an NCAA-record crowd of 9,460 fans, the game marked the third time the Tar Heels and Huskies have met for the NCAA championship, with North Carolina winning in 1984 and 1990.

The Huskies and the Tar Heels are the only two schools in the nation that have appeared in all 16 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament since the event's inception in 1982.

"This is certainly a tribute to all the hard work that has been put in by Coach Len Tsantiris, and our current and former student-athletes," Hathaway said."We are extremely excited about the future of our women's soccer program and we believe that the University of Connecticut will continue to be one of the dominant teams in women's soccer throughout the country."

UConn defeated Notre Dame in the semifinal game 2-1 behind the brilliant play of goalkeeper Heather Stone, who faced 20 shots in the championship game against North Carolina.

"We finished second in the nation behind the best team," Stone said."I love our team and I am very happy with what we accomplished this year."

Stone was one of four Huskies named to the All-Tournament team including senior All-American co-captain Sara Whalen, sophomore midfielder Jennifer Tietjen and back Carey Dorn.

On December 6, Whalen was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association All-American first team for the third straight year.

LM