University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Penn State
No. 2 Tar Heels Beat No. 8 Penn State, 3-2
October 5, 2003 | Field Hockey
Oct. 5, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After trailing by two goals at halftime, the second-ranked North Carolina field hockey team scored three times in the second half Sunday afternoon to defeat No. 8 Penn State 3-2 at Francis E. Henry Stadium. UNC improved to 11-1 (1-1 ACC) with the win, while Penn State fell to 10-3 (1-1 Big Ten).
"This was a really important win for us," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "We can file this away and know that we've demonstrated the ability to come from behind. If we find ourselves in this situation again - and I hope we don't - we know that we can come back."
Penn State took the lead with 21:32 to play in the first half on a penalty corner goal by senior Heather Conroy, assisted by Michele Rigby and Neilye Stoner. Junior Karin Grap gave the Nittany Lions a two-goal cushion when she scored with just over five minutes to play before halftime. It marked just the second time this season that the Tar Heels had trailed at halftime and the first time this year they had been behind by more than one goal.
The second half was more than 10 minutes old when UNC got on the board for the first time on a goal by junior Kelsey Keeran. Carolina evened the score at 2-2 with 5:44 to play when freshman Laree Beans scored on a penalty corner, the Tar Heels' third of the half. PSU goalkeeper Annie Zinkavich made two saves before Beans shot the ball past her and into the goal.
The gamewinner came with just 1:25 to play on another penalty corner. Junior Katy Potter tipped in a shot by junior Carey Fetting-Smith, and the Tar Heels held onto the one-goal lead for the win.
"At halftime, I told the team not to panic," Shelton said. "I know we have a potent offense and the ability to score goals. I challenged them to play together and know that they can come from behind."
Penn State defeated the Tar Heels 2-1 last season in State College, Pa. Carolina now leads the series 16-5-1.
Next up for UNC is a pair of road games. The Tar Heels travel to take on Appalachian State Friday in Boone, N.C., then head up to Charlottesville, Va., for an Atlantic Coast Conference game against Virginia on Sunday.
No. 2 North Carolina 3, No. 8 Penn State 2
Scoring:
PSU - Heather Conroy (Michele Rigby, Neilye Stoner), 1st, 21:32
PSU - Karin Grap (Timarie Legel), 1st, 5:15
UNC - Kelsey Keeran, 2nd, 23:29
UNC - Laree Beans, 2nd, 5:44
UNC - Katy Potter (Carey Fetting-Smith), 2nd, 1:25
Penalty corners: UNC 8, PSU 3
Goalkeeper saves: UNC (Katy Tran) 1, PSU (Annie Zinkavich) 8
Attendance: 353
UNC starters: Carey Fetting-Smith, Naomi Weatherald, Brooke Miller, Rachel Dawson, Kelsey Keeran, Katy Potter, Laree Beans, Ashley Judge, Kerry Falgowski, Laura Douglas, Katy Tran
UNC substitutes: Karen Mann
