UCLA women blank Alabama, will play North Carolina for title

Dec 2, 2022, 5:59 AM | Updated: 8:05 pm

Madelyn Desiano (11) celebrates next to Alabama's Sasha Pickard (7) after scoring a goal during the second half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

(AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

UCLA's Lexi Wright (17) works with the ball next to Alabama's Gessica Skorka (7) during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

UCLA's Sunshine Fontes (50) and Alabama's Macy Clem (2) try to head the ball during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

UCLA's Ally Lemos, left, and Alabama's Gianna Paul compete for the ball during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

UCLA's Ally Cook, left, and Alabama's Riley Tanner, right, vie for control of the ball during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

UCLA's Lexi Wright (17) works with the ball in front of Alabama's Gianna Paul during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

UCLA's Lilly Reale (4) tries to beat Alabama's Riley Tanner (12) to the ball during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Alabama's Ashlynn Serepca, top, is taken down by UCLA's Sunshine Fontes during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

UCLA goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy stops an Alabama shot during the first half of an NCAA women's soccer tournament semifinal in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Reilyn Turner gave top-ranked UCLA the lead, Quincy McMahon and Madelyn Desiano added insurance goals and the Bruins defeated Alabama 3-0 in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division I women’s soccer championship on Friday night.

UCLA (21-2-1) will play North Carolina for the championship on Monday night. The Tar Heels held off defending champion Florida State 3-2 in the first semifinal.

The Bruins are in the College Cup for the 12th time, winning the title in 2013. Alabama (23-3-1) was making its first semifinal appearance. The Crimson Tide led the nation in wins, total points, goals and assists this season.

UCLA came out firing, taking four shots on goal in the first 14 minutes.

McKinley Crone had five saves before the Bruins finally got one past. Turner found the net for UCLA — with an assist from McMahon — in the 30th minute for a 1-0 lead.

UCLA broke the match open in a two-minute span of the second half. McMahon scored unassisted in the 52nd minute and Madelyn Desiano stretched the Bruins’ lead to 3-0 with an unassisted goal just 1:56 later.

Lauren Brzykcy had seven saves in posting a clean sheet for UCLA. Crone finished with eight saves for the Tide.

It was the 10th goal of the season for Turner and the third for McMahon and Desiano.

Sophomore defenders McMahon and Lilly Reale and Turner, a junior forward, all garnered All-Pac-12 first-team selections.

On a previous trip to North Carolina this season, the Bruins knocked off then-No. 1 North Carolina and No. 2 Duke in consecutive matches.

North Carolina is aiming for its 22nd national championship in the last 41 seasons.

___

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