| Women's College Cup (semifinals & final) | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Country | United States |
| Dates | November–December 1996 |
| Teams | 32 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | North Carolina Tar Heels (13th title, 15th College Cup) |
| Runner-up | Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3rd title match, 3rd College Cup) |
| Semifinalists |
|
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 31 |
| Goals scored | 114 (3.68 per match) |
| Attendance | 53,322 (1,720 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Danielle Fotopoulous, Florida (5) Amy Van Laacke, Notre Dame (5) |
| Best player | Debbie Keller, UNC (Offensive) Nel Fettig, UNC (Defensive) |
All statistics correct as of 5/23/2015. | |
The 1996 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament was the 15th annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA Division I women's collegiate soccer. The semifinals and championship game were played at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, California during December 1996.[1]
North Carolina defeated Notre Dame in the final, 1–0 (in two overtimes), to win their thirteenth national title. Coached by Anson Dorrance, the Tar Heels finished the season 27–0–1. North Carolina returned to the championship after appearing in all thirteen finals prior to 1995.
The most outstanding offensive player was Debbie Keller from North Carolina, and the most outstanding defensive player was Nel Fettig, also from North Carolina. Keller and Fettig, along with eleven other players, were named to the All-tournament team.
The tournament's leading scorers, with 5 goals each, were Danielle Fotopoulous from Florida and Amy Van Laacke from Notre Dame.