University of North Carolina Athletics
NCAA Bracket Sends Tar Heels to Norfolk, Va.
June 21, 1999 | Field Hockey
November 11, 1998
CHAPEL HILL - The North Carolina field hockey team received its 16th-straight NCAA Tournament bid on Wednesday and will play Northeastern University Saturday at noon in Norfolk, Va. The winner of that first round game will play host Old Dominion, ranked No. 1 in the final poll of the season, on Sunday at 1 p.m. for a spot in the field hockey final four.
"We're thrilled to be in the tournament," Carolina coach Karen Shelton said. "We have a one-in-12 chance to win the championship."
North Carolina is 12-7 overall and was ranked No. 4 in the final poll of the season. Northeastern is 14-7 and was ranked No. 11 in the final poll of the season. While North Carolina hasn't played Northeastern this season, the Tar Heels are very familiar with ODU. The two teams have met twice this season, with Old Dominion winning the first matchup 4-3 on Sept. 19 and the second 3-1 on Nov. 1. Northeastern beat ODU 1-0 on Oct. 4.
This year is North Carolina's first without a first-round bye since 1988. (Four teams in the 12-team field host games and all get first-round byes. This year's host teams are Old Dominion, Maryland, Connecticut and Princeton.) "We know from past experience that the pressure is on the home team," Shelton said. "If we can beat Northeastern, we're excited about the chance to play ODU at their place. It would be a tough game, but to win a championship you've got to beat the best."
North Carolina has won the last three NCAA titles and has reached the final four every year since 1988. This year's championship will be contested in Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 20 and 22.
