University of North Carolina Athletics
Field Hockey Returns To Henry Stadium
August 31, 2001 | Field Hockey
Aug. 31, 2001
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--After kicking off the season with a road win last Saturday, the University of North Carolina field hockey team will open its 2001 home schedule this weekend, hosting Penn State Saturday at 1 p.m. and Virginia Commonwealth Sunday at 1 p.m.
In the only national poll already out this season, HockeyPoint.com ranks UNC No. 1 and Penn State No. 9. Saturday's game will be the season opener for Penn State.
"This game will be a great challenge for us," Shelton said. "Penn State always plays a very energetic and high-level brand of field hockey, a style that always gives us trouble. I expect a battle."
The last matchup between UNC and Penn State went into overtime. On Sept. 4, 2000, at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the Tar Heels won 2-1 on then-senior Jana Toepel's goal in the first overtime period. Overall, Carolina leads the series with PSU 14-4-1.
The Tar Heels, NCAA runners-up last season, started the season at No. 2 in the HockeyPoint poll and moved up after defeating Connecticut 4-0 last Saturday to open the season. In that game, the Tar Heels got goals from four different players: Abby Martin, Abbey Woolley, Kelsey Keeran and Susan Hayes.
Following the game against the Nittany Lions, Carolina will turn its attention to Virginia Commonwealth. VCU opened its season last Sunday with a 3-0 win over New Hampshire and will play at Duke on Saturday before coming to Chapel Hill. UNC leads the series with the Rams 10-0.
Carolina plays its home games at Francis E. Henry Stadium on Ridge Road. Admission is free and the first 350 fans at Saturday's game against Penn State will receive a 2001 Carolina field hockey schedule poster.
