University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Michigan (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
Carolina Shuts Out Michigan
August 31, 2003 | Field Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The North Carolina field hockey team opened the 2003 season Sunday afternoon with a 4-0 win at Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. UNC (1-0) got goals from four different players in the victory.
The Tar Heels' victory snapped a 12-game winning streak by the Wolverines at Ocker Field. The string dated back to Michigan's 5-2 win over UNC in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
"I'm very, very happy with the team," UNC coach Karen Shelton. "We played together very well. We had prepared well in the preseason and everyone was excited to play."
UNC wasted no time getting on the board. Junior Katy Potter scored first, on a penalty corner just 3:35 into the game. Junior Kerry Falgowski made the score 2-0 when she slapped back a rebound 21:47 into the first half.
In the second half, freshman Rachel Dawson, who assisted on Potter's goal, scored the first goal of her UNC career. Her shot came on a penalty corner 53:10 into the game. Junior Carey Fetting-Smith had Carolina's final score when she put the ball in the right side of the goal from seven yards out.
Carolina had 14 shots to 12 by Michigan, but the Wolverines had seven penalty corners to three by UNC. Sophomore goalkeeper Katy Tran made three saves and earned the shutout in her first career start.
The Tar Heels lost last season's opener to Michigan 2-0 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Chapel Hill and went on to a 9-11 season, missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1982. "This was a game we wanted and needed desperately to win to rebound from last season," Shelton said. "But we also understand that this is only one game."
UNC returns to action on Monday with a noon game against Iowa. The Hawkeyes fell 1-0 in overtime to defending NCAA Champion Wake Forest on Sunday as ACC teams swept both of the day's games.
"Iowa is a strong team," Shelton said. "They took the defending national champion into overtime today. We expect a very tough game tomorrow, and it's always hard to turn around and play again in less than 24 hours."
North Carolina 4, Michigan 0
Scoring: UNC - Katy Potter (Rachel Dawson), 1st half, 3:35 into game; UNC - Kerry Falgowski, 1st half, 21:47 into game; UNC - Dawson, 2nd half, 53:10 into game; UNC - Carey Fetting-Smith, 2nd half, 62:53 into game
Shots: UNC 14, UM 12
Penalty corners: UNC 3, UM 7
Saves: UNC (Katy Tran) 3, UM (Molly Maloney) 3
UNC starters: Laree Beans, Kerry Falgowski, Kelsey Keeran, Laura Douglas, Katy Potter, Rachel Dawson, Carey Fetting-Smith, Brooke Miller, Ashley Judge, Naomi Weatherald, Katy Tran
UNC substitutes: Karen Mann, Amber Chambers, Mary Havell
