#4 Portland did nearly everything but put the ball in the net Saturday, taking home a 0-0 double-overtime draw with #1 North Carolina. In front of the fifth-largest Merlo Field crowd ever (4,140), the Pilots outshot the Tar Heels 17-10 in a game largely played in the middle three-fifths of the pitch. Portland’s record moved to 7-2-1, while North Carolina stands at 7-0-2.

Portland, now 0-7-1 all-time against North Carolina, put up three shots in the second overtime period, but Erin Misaki’s shot from the top of the box was less than a foot wide left midway through the period, Wanda Rozwadowska’s 5-foot header sailed over the cross-bar with 1:20 left to play, and Christine Sinclair’s sliding bullet from less than two yards out skimmed past the left post with less than a ball’s clearance.

The Pilots outshot the Tar Heels 6-1 in the two overtime periods, and 11-9 in regulation. Portland forced six shots on goal, but Tar Heel keeper Aly Winget made three diving stops among her six saves. Portland keeper Lauren Arase had two saves for her fourth shutout of the season, and the Pilot defense was outstanding for the team’s sixth shutout.

The most serious Tar Heel scoring opportunity - other than three corner kicks - was a well-struck free kick by Catherine Reddick at 86:45, some 30 yards from goal. Reddick’s blistering shot, however, was at least 10 feet over the Portland goal.

The 0-0 result was North Carolina’s first scoreless draw since a 0-0 result against Notre Dame in 1994, and only the fourth draw for the program since the 1990 season.

The last meeting between the two teams was a 2-1 UNC win in the semifinals of the 2001 NCAA Women’s College Cup.