University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Field Hockey to Open New Season, New Stadium
August 26, 1999 | Field Hockey
Aug. 26, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-The North Carolina field hockey team will kick off the 1999 season and christen its new facility, Francis E. Henry Stadium, this weekend with games against Michigan and Duke. The Tar Heels host the Wolverines Saturday at 1 p.m. in the first University of North Carolina intercollegiate athletic contest of the 1999-2000 school year. Sunday's game with the Blue Devils is at 2:30 p.m. and marks the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
"We're very excited to open our season and our new facility this weekend against two outstanding strong opponents," says UNC coach Karen Shelton, who is beginning her 19th year at the Tar Heel helm. "Our team is much improved from last season and we're looking forward to getting out on the field."
Carolina, 13-8 last season, returns eight starters from last year's team and is ranked No. 3 in a preseason poll by Sports Illustrated for Women magazine. The same poll ranks Michigan No. 7 and Duke No. 10.
The visiting staffs will include quite a few familiar faces. Michigan head coach Marcia Pankratz is a former UNC assistant while Michigan assistant coach Peggy Storrar was an All-America goalkeeper for the Tar Heels. On the Duke staff, head coach Liz Tchou also is a former Carolina assistant coach, while Duke assistant Cindy Werley remains the Tar Heels' career leader in scoring and goals.
Francis E. Henry Stadium was dedicated last April, but this weekend will mark the field hockey team's first games there. The facility, which is shared with women's lacrosse, includes grandstand seating for 1,000, as well as permanent concession stands and restrooms. In addition to the Carolina games, Henry Stadium will host a Michigan-Radford matchup on Sunday at 1 p.m. Admission to games is free.
