The way things were going this season, there was some doubt North Carolina would make the Sweet 16. The Tar Heels lost three games for the first time in two decades and entered the playoffs as the No. 5 seed. But Carolina endured to capture its 16th NCAA title in 19 years.

Parity means teams can now take a lead on North Carolina before the Tar Heels win a championship.

Parity was the buzz word in San Jose before the WomenÆs College Cup, just as it has been ever since Notre Dame dethroned North Carolina in the 1995 semifinals and won the NCAA championship. Florida provided further evidence in 1998, when the Gators beat North Carolina in the final.

But no program has truly caught up with Carolina.

This time, Carolina earned 2-1 comeback wins over Notre Dame in the semifinals and UCLA in the final at San JoseÆs Spartan Stadium to retain the College Cup.

Notre Dame coach Randy Waldrum was realistic when he claimed before the semifinals that Carolina was the favorite despite the fact that the top-seeded Irish were unbeaten while UNC, with three losses, was seeded No. 5.

ôUntil somebody beats them for a couple of years in a row, I still think that they are the team to beat,ö Waldrum said after the semifinal loss. ôMy hat is off to Anson and the Carolina Tar Heels. They continue to find ways to get it done.ö

This was the second straight season in which Carolina did not have overwhelming talent. Last year, a gutsy performance by a Lorrie Fair-led squad won the title. This year, the Carolina system, more than anything else, won the title.

CarolinaÆs high pressure and aggressive attacking style wore down the Irish and the Bruins. UNC, meanwhile, stayed fresh thanks to its typical fitness edge and deep bench.

ôIn the second game of a weekend, I always feel like we have an advantage,ö Dorrance said. ôPart of that is I think our kids are the best conditioned kids who play.

That was especially true late in both games.

EARLY IRISH ADVANTAGE. Notre Dame dominated the first half, confusing the Tar Heels with a 4-2-4 formation.

Waldrum believed his midfield couldnÆt compete with CarolinaÆs direct style without central midfielder Ashley Dryer, who suffered a torn MCL in her knee in the quarterfinal win over Santa Clara. So he pushed his outside midfielders forward, giving his frontline a 4-3 advantage over the Carolina defenders.

The added pressure paid off in the 20th minute, when senior forward Meotis Erikson split defenders Julia Marslender and Kalli Kamholz with a through ball to freshman Amy Warner, who fired past a diving Jenni Branam.

Notre Dame could have increased its lead in the second half. Ali Lovelace latched onto another penetrating pass, broke free of the charging Branam and fired at the goal ù but freshman defender Catherine Reddick was there to deflect the ball over the endline.

It was a missed opportunity the Irish would quickly regret.

Three minutes later, UNCÆs Kim Patrick, the heroine of last yearÆs College Cup, headed in a Jena Kluegel corner kick for the equalizer.

Another set piece settled the match in the 83rd minute. A Kalli Kamholz throw-in was eventually cleared just outside the Irish penalty area. Jordan Walker pounced on the ball, and her 20-yard rocket beat goalkeeper Liz Wagner.

For the final, Dorrance made two important changes ù he started Reddick for the first time this season and moved junior defender Danielle Borgman up front.

Both made big impacts. Reddick helped to contain dangerous UCLA forward Stephanie Rigamat. Borgman, who was a forward before she came to Carolina, was more active in the final than freshman forward Alyssa Ramsey was against the Irish.

BRUINSÆ PRESSURE. Unlike most teams, though, UCLA has the speed and athleticism to keep up with Carolina.

Dorrance, never one to diminish his teamÆs capabilities, even told his players that facing UCLA would be ôlike an inter-squad scrimmage.ö

The Bruins used their quickness and depth to dominate Portland in the semifinals.

Portland played well in the first part of each half but couldnÆt create the same type of scoring chances that UCLA had.

ôHaving a little more depth for us was definitely an advantage for us this year,ö UCLA coach Jillian Ellis said. ôIt helped us put pressure on their back line.ö

UCLAÆs pressure was finally rewarded with a goal in the 77th minute. Venus James crossed the ball from just outside the UP penalty area to Rigamat. The 5-3 junior, who had transferred to Westwood from UC Irvine and had to sit out last season, rose above the Portland defense and headed the ball past goalkeeper Cheryl Loveless for the 1-0 victory.

UCLA hung on against North Carolina and even took the lead in the 54th minute when Rigamat, the revelation of the College Cup, created the BruinsÆ goal with a dangerous ball across the box.

Branam collided with Reddick, taking both out of the play. The ball fell at Lindsay GrecoÆs feet, and she tapped it in for the 1-0 lead.

The goal buoyed UCLA, which continued to attack. But CarolinaÆs defensive pressure was too much. Branam didnÆt have to make a save all weekend.

The equalizer came with less than 15 minutes left. DorranceÆs decision to play Borgman up front paid dividends when she crossed the ball into the box to Ramsey, at the near post with 5-3 defender Krista Boling on her back. The freshman flicked the ball to an onrushing Meredith Florance, who hammered it into the net to tie the match.

The winner was not a thing of beauty.

Reddick sent the ball into the box, and Boling tried to clear it. Instead, the ball deflected off her calf and past goalie CeCe Peterson.

It was only the second own goal in the history of the NCAA womenÆs Division I final four. U.S. Olympian Cindy Parlow scored the first one, in CarolinaÆs æ95 loss to Notre Dame that ended its nine-year reign as national champion.

HEELSÆ ADVERSITY. Florance earned the College CupÆs offensive MVP award after terrorizing UCLA with runs down the flanks and scoring the equalizer.

ôTo go out my senior year with a national championship is obviously a great feeling,ö said Florance. ôI will always cherish what IÆve experienced here at Carolina.ö

Winning doesnÆt get old for Dorrance.

ôWhen there is adversity, I think you appreciate it all the more,ö he said after the final. ôThis is a year we came in the lowest weÆd ever been seeded. That was a factor in making this field even better. Also the fact in both these games we were down and came back. ItÆs more thrilling to come from behind and win than to be ahead the whole game or riding a game. Both those experiences this weekend in both games made this an even greater thrill.ö

by Soccer America associate editor Dean Caparaz in San Jose