University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Connecticut (NCAA Tournament)
Tar Heels Reach Title Game
November 16, 2007 | Field Hockey
Nov. 16, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The North Carolina field hockey team will play Sunday for the program's fifth national championship following a 4-2 win over No. 4 Connecticut Friday in the NCAA semifinals at the University of Maryland's Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. Sophomore Danielle Forword scored twice for the top-ranked Tar Heels, who improved to 23-0 on the season.
UNC led 3-0, but the Huskies came up with a goal shortly before halftime and just after the break to draw within one before another Tar Heel score. "I thought it was a real tough battle with UConn," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "I felt good about the first half, the way our team competed and what were able to exploit, but they got a goal in the last minute that kind of changed the complexion of the game, coupled with goal they got early in the second half. That put a lot of pressure on us and it woke them up. They played hard and tough and made us earn everything we got."
Sophomore Illse Davids put UNC ahead for good less than six minutes into the game with a hard shot from the top of the circle on a pass from senior Jesse Gey. Ten minutes later, Forword put Carolina up 2-0 with her first goal of the game, batting in a shot by senior Laree Beans. In the 27th minute of play, UNC pushed the lead to 3-0 with a goal by Britt van Beek. The junior forward's first shot was saved by UConn goalkeeper Andrea Mainiero, but she gathered the rebound and shot again for her ninth goal of the season.
After not having had a shot all half, the Huskies scored a goal in the final minute. UNC goalkeeper Brianna O'Donnell saved UConn's first shot of the game, but senior Nikki Harmony grabbed the rebound and put it back with 34 seconds to play to draw her team to 3-1 at the break.
The Huskies scored another goal 17 seconds into the second period on an unassisted shot by junior Lauren Aird to close the gap to one at 3-2. "They carried it down and were able to cross it and score," Shelton said. "I don't know so much that it was a breakdown on our part as that it was great play on UConn's part."
Forword gave the Tar Heels a bit of breathing room in the 57th minute with a shot from the left baseline that hit just inside the far post to put UNC up 4-2.
UNC's 11 shots and four corners both ranked as the team's second-lowest totals of the season. The Huskies finished with seven shots and four corners.
On Sunday, Carolina will face either No. 3 Wake Forest or No. 9 Penn State, which will meet in Friday's second semifinal. The championship game is set for noon and will air live on CSTV.
The Tar Heels will be playing for the program's fifth title, following crowns in 1989, 1995, 1996 and 1997.
No. 1 North Carolina 4, No. 4 Connecticut 2
Scoring: UNC - Illse Davids (Jesse Gey), 5:48; UNC - Danielle Forword, 16:02; UNC - Britt van Beek, 26:13; UConn - Nikki Harmony, 34:26; UConn - Lauren Aird, 35:17; UNC - Forword, 56:57
Shots: UNC 11, UConn 7
Penalty corners: UNC 4, UConn 4
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 2 (Brianna O'Donnell), UConn 2 (Andrea Mainiero)
Records: UNC 23-0, UConn 22-3
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, Heather Kendell, Elizabeth Drazdowski
