GoHeels Exclusive: Defense Leads Field Hockey To Final Four, Olympic Notes

by Pat James

No time remained on the clock at the University of Virginia's Turf Field on Sunday. But even then, the North Carolina field hockey team couldn't relent.

In an NCAA Tournament second-round game against No. 11 Princeton, No. 4 UNC clung to a 3-2 lead when the Tigers drew three consecutive penalty corners – the last two of which came after the clock hit zero.

Both of Princeton's goals had come on penalty corners. And on their final attempt, the Tigers tallied two shots. But neither found the back of the cage.

Tar Heel defenders blocked both shots. And when Eva van't Hoog corralled the ball and knocked it out of bounds, the team's celebration of its ninth straight Final Four and 22nd in program history finally commenced.

It seemed appropriate for UNC to extend its season behind its defense. The Tar Heels had allowed only two goals in their first four postseason games. Before surrendering one in the 35th minute Sunday, 250 minutes, 30 seconds of game time separated them from the last goal they surrendered.

UNC's defense will continue to be key Friday, when it faces No. 1 Connecticut in the first national semifinal at 2 p.m. The Huskies lead the nation with a 4.75 scoring average.

Cherry, Kea coordinate comeback

Although 10 of its 14 players are freshmen and sophomores, the women's basketball team finds leadership in Jamie Cherry and Paris Kea. And that couldn't have been more evident than in Sunday's game against Colorado.

The Tar Heels, coming off a 70-66 loss against Hampton on Friday, looked like they might open the season with an 0-2 record when they trailed Colorado 47-32 at halftime. But Cherry and Kea scored 34 of their 54 total points after halftime to lead the team to an 87-80 overtime victory.

Cherry's 3-pointer with 18 seconds remaining in regulation handed UNC a 74-72 lead. A Colorado layup then sent the game into overtime, where Kea scored the opening basket and the Tar Heels never trailed en route to their largest comeback win since an 18-point rally against UT Martin in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

Alcorta, Ilse shine at NCAA regional

When Caroline Alcorta made her season debut in the Louisville Classic on Sept. 30, she and Morgan Ilse finished within 27 seconds of each other. That gap marked the largest between the two runners this season.

And at the NCAA Southeast Regional on Friday, they continued running alongside each other to earn all-region honors. With a time of 20:52.4, Alcorta earned the honor for the second time in her career. Ilse finished in 20:37.5 to claim the distinction for the first time.

Their performances led the women's cross country team to a 13th-place finish in the 37-team race. The men took 16th out of 32.

Elinsky, women's soccer advance

Behind Abby Elinsky's career day, the women's soccer team defeated High Point 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. UNC will face Colorado in the second round at 5 p.m. Friday at Cary's WakeMed Soccer Park.

Divers provide encouraging results

Although the men's and women's swimming and diving teams fell 162-137 and 172-125, respectively, against Texas on Saturday, each received impressive performances on the diving board.

The Tar Heels won three of the four events. And in all four, a diver posted a season-high score.
Greg Duncan scored 384.90 points to place first in the one-meter. He also took third in the three-meter, which Sean Burston won with a score of 413.85. On the women's side, Elissa Dawson finished first in the three-meter with a score of 363.75 and posted a season-high score of 321.75 to finish second in the one-meter.

Carlton keeps progressing

In a season that perhaps hasn't fully met expectations, the volleyball team has benefited from the development of Holly Carlton. And that continued in Saturday's match against Clemson.

After helping UNC rally from a 1-2 deficit to defeat Georgia Tech, 3-2 (25-15, 21-25, 17-25, 25-21, 15-9), on Thursday, she flashed her versatility in a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-18, 25-12) over Clemson. Carlton hit .500 with eight kills, eight digs and a career-high tying seven blocks. She also added 13 assists.

Behind Carlton's 12.5 points, her most since registering 15.5 in a 3-1 victory over Virginia Tech on Oct. 13, the Tar Heels concluded its second straight 10-0 ACC home season

Heilmann's hot start

After winning the 149-pound title at the Hokie Open on Nov. 5, Troy Heilmann continued finding success in the wrestling team's first dual competition of the season on Saturday.

UNC opened the Journeymen Duals at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, N.Y., with a 31-6 loss to Purdue. Heilmann's third-period pin of Austin Nash proved to be the team's lone victory of the dual.

Then in a 25-9 defeat against No. 3 Oklahoma State, Heilmann beat Geo Martinez in a 4-3 decision to improve to 7-0 on the season.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

GoHeels Exclusive: Defense Leads Field Hockey To Final Four, Olympic Notes

Players Mentioned

Eva van't Hoog

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