University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
West Chester
Tar Heels Win 6-0 At West Chester
September 9, 2006 | Field Hockey
Sept. 9, 2006
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - The North Carolina field hockey team stayed undefeated with its second shutout in a row, winning 6-0 Saturday afternoon at West Chester, the alma mater of Tar Heel coach Karen Shelton. The No. 5 Tar Heels improved to 5-0 on the season, while the host Golden Rams fell to 1-4.
The game was a homecoming for 10 Tar Heel players from the state of Pennsylvania, and they accounted for five goals and two assists on the day. Senior Brooke Miller, from Hummelstown, scored twice, and junior Alli Tanner, from Lancaster, added two more. Kate Scholl, from East Greenville, had the fifth. The six goal came from redshirt freshman Kate Howard (Carmel, Calif.), who notched the first score of her career. Junior Jesse Gey, from Green Lane, finished with two assists and freshman Brianna O'Donnell, from Collegeville, made two saves to earn her second career shutout in goal.
"The team played very unselfishly today," Shelton said. "We did a nice job of moving the ball and stayed patient on the attack. I'm proud of our team effort. Our midfield and backfield did a very nice job of controlling the ball - we moved the ball well and found openings. It was a great day for passing the ball and we put on a good display of two-touch passing."
UNC's first goal came less than four minutes into the match, when Miller scored on a penalty corner, assisted by Gey (push-out) and junior Xan Funk (stick stop). Just over four minutes later, Tanner scored unassisted. Her first goal of the season put Carolina up 2-0 at halftime.
Six minutes into the second half, Miller struck again on a penalty corner, assisted by Gey and sophomore Britt van Beek. Three minute later, it was Tanner's turn again. Scholl's first goal of the season put UNC up 5-0 with 18:01 to play. The final Tar Heel goal, by Howard, came on an assist from freshman Danielle Forword with 12:13 remaining in the game.
The game was part of the Vonnie Gros Classic, with a four-team field that also includes Iowa and Villanova. Three of the four coaches in the weekend's event - UNC's Shelton, West Chester's Kathy Krannebitter and Iowa's Tracey Griesbaum - played for Gros at West Chester. Shelton also played for Gros as a member of the U.S. National Team. "It was a special homecoming," Shelton said. "It was really nice to be back and have them welcome us to the Vonnie Gros Classic. It's a great event and enabled us to reflect on the history of the sport and honor one of the geniuses of coaching."
The crowd of UNC supporters at the game included many former Tar Heels. Among the alums in attendance were Kim Schroll, Erin Cox, Jana Toepel, Claire Dougherty, Kim Knickerbocker and Maryellen Falcone.
UNC returns to action Sunday with a 2:30 p.m. game against Villanova, a winner over Iowa on Saturday.
No. 5 North Carolina 6, West Chester 0
Scoring: UNC - Brooke Miller (Jesse Gey, Xan Funk), 3:51; UNC - Alli Tanner, 8:11; UNC - Miller (Gey, Britt van Beek), 41:06; UNC - Tanner, 44:10; UNC - Kate Scholl, 51:59; UNC - Kate Howard (Danielle Forword), 57:47
Shots: UNC 26, WCU 2
Penalty corners: UNC 8, WCU 1
Goalkeeper saves: UNC (Brianna O'Donnell) 2, WCU (Nicole Dull, Joelle Zarefoss) 20
Records: UNC 5-0, WCU 1-4
UNC starters: Illse Davids, Riley Foster, Alli Tanner, Brooke Miller, Heather Kendell, Jesse Gey, Ashley Judge, Karen Mann, Xan Funk, Danielle Forword, Brianna O'Donnell
UNC substitutes: Stewi Downer, Melanie Brill, Kate Scholl, Britt van Beek, Hilary Hartman, Kate Howard, Liz Morris
