UNC Women’s Program Wins Capital One Cup Trophy

The women’s soccer program at the University of North Carolina has long been regarded as the benchmark for women’s collegiate soccer in the United States.

The Tar Heels captured the 2012 NCAA Division I national championship, and helped the UNC women’s athletic program finish first in the annual Capital One Cup. That Cup is awarded to the best men’s and women’s Division I athletics programs in the country.

North Carolina toppled three #1 seeds on its way to claiming the school’s 21st national championship in women’s soccer.

Claiming its first Capital One Cup trophy and $200,000 toward student-athlete scholarships, North Carolina was formally honored for their accomplishment during this year’s ESPY Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on July 17.

UCLA won the Capital One Cup for men’s Division I athletics.

The Tar Heels’ soccer championship, and a runner-up finish in the field hockey championship during the fall season, UNC moved to the top of the standings in January, sharing #1 with Penn State. After falling to fourth during the winner standings, UNC bounced back in the spring and outdistanced two-time defending winner Stanford on the strength of a lacrosse national title and a fourth-place finish in the final tennis coaches’ poll.

Stanford won the NCAA women’s tennis national title and nine other top-10 finishes across 20 women’s sports. The Cardinal finished 10.5 points behind the Tar Heels.

Rounding out the top 10 were Oregon (3), Texas (4), Penn State (5), Florida (6), Oklahoma (7), Kansas (T-8), Southern California (T-8) and Connecticut (10).

“This is a wonderful accomplishment by our women’s sports programs and the entire Carolina community congratulates these outstanding women for their achievement,” said University of North Carolina Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham.

“To earn first place in the Capital One Cup is a credit to the hard work, perseverance and dedication of these students, our coaches and support staff.”