University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Stanford (NCAA Tournament)
Tar Heels Advance With 14th Shutout
November 10, 2007 | Field Hockey
Nov. 10, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Freshman Katelyn Falgowski scored twice as the North Carolina field hockey team beat visiting Stanford 4-0 Saturday at Francis E. Henry Stadium in an NCAA Tournament first-round game. The top-ranked Tar Heels improved to 21-0 on the season and advanced to play a second-round game on Sunday at 2 p.m. against either Duke or James Madison, which will meet in the second game of Saturday's first-round doubleheader. Stanford, which beat Lock Haven in a play-in game to reach the NCAA field, ended its season with a record of 13-8.
Falgowski, the ACC Freshman of the Year, gave UNC the only goal it would need in the ninth minute of play. She took a pass from senior Laree Beans and shot the ball from the middle of the circle to put the Tar Heels up 1-0.
Carolina's next goal came just shy of the 14-minute mark on an unassisted shot by senior Jesse Gey. Falgowski scored again six minutes later after UNC drew the team's third penalty corner of the game. Senior Heather Kendell chased down a ball that had gotten out of the circle and sent it back in to Falgowski, who put her shot to the right of Stanford goalkeeper Madison Bell.
UNC's final goal was by junior Britt van Beek in the 30th minute of play. After a blocked shot on a UNC penalty corner, she gathered the ball and shot it past Bell to put Carolina up 4-0.
The Tar Heels had 17 of their 23 shots in the first half, while Stanford had two in each half, including a penalty stroke just before halftime that was saved by UNC goalkeeper Brianna O'Donnell. The shutout was UNC's 14th of the season, tying a school record that is shared by the 1978, 1988 and 1994 Carolina teams.
"I thought our team started very well," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "We moved the ball, we passed well, we created numerous scoring opportunities. Our objective was to get an early lead and then be able to play a lot of people. I'm also delighted that we got our 14th shutout."
With the win, UNC is 34-19 all-time in NCAA Tournament play. The Tar Heels are making their 24th appearance in the field.
Stanford finished with the program's first winning record since 2001 and made the NCAA Tournament field for the first time since 2000. "I was really proud of the way our team played, particularly in the second half," Cardinal coach Lesley Irvine said. "I think they showed a tremendous amount of heart and determination. Our team is very, very young and we're excited for the future."
North Carolina is familiar with both of the teams it could face on Sunday. The Tar Heels beat James Madison, now ranked No. 7, 2-1 in Chapel Hill on Sept. 2 and Duke, now No. 12, 5-0 on Sept. 22. The winner of Sunday's game advances to the NCAA semifinals next Friday in College Park, Md.
No. 1 North Carolina 4, Stanford 0
Scoring: UNC - Katelyn Falgowski (Laree Beans), 8:15; UNC - Jesse Gey, 13:59; UNC - Falgowski (Heather Kendell), 18:59; UNC - Britt van Beek, 29:19
Shots: UNC 23, Stanford 4
Penalty corners: UNC 7, Stanford 0
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 3 (Brianna O'Donnell 2, Jackie Kintzer 1), Stanford 11 (Madison Bell)
Records: UNC 21-0, Stanford 13-8
UNC starters: Brianna O'Donnell, Illse Davids, Riley Foster, Rachel Dawson, Melanie Brill, Britt van Beek, Jesse Gey, Laree Beans, Xan Funk, Danielle Forword, Katelyn Falgowski
UNC substitutes: Alli Tanner, Kiki Norbruis, Heather Kendell, Kate Scholl, Hilary Hartman, Elizabeth Drazdowski, Meghan Dawson, Liz Morris, Jen Slocum, Jackie Kintzer, Casey Burns
