Carolina Claims NCAA Crown

Sunday, November 18

College Park, Md.

12:00 PM

North Carolina

Penn State

Tar Heels Finish 14th In Sports Academy Directors' Cup

November 18, 2007 | Field Hockey

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Nov. 18, 2007

Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The North Carolina field hockey team capped an outstanding season with the perfect ending Sunday afternoon, earning a 3-0 shutout win over Penn State in the 2007 NCAA Championship game at the University of Maryland's Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. The top-ranked Tar Heels finished the year 24-0, becoming the fifth team in Division I history and the second in Carolina history to go undefeated.

"From the first practice in preseason to now, I've had a team that has remained incredibly focused and hardworking," UNC coach Karen Shelton said following Sunday's game. "I couldn't be prouder of the seven seniors that led the way - co-captains Rachel Dawson and Laree Beans, Jesse Gey, Alli Tanner, and our three Chapel Hillians - Xan Funk, Heather Kendell and Liz Morris.

"What we are delighted to do is represent the University of North Carolina. It's just a privilege and an honor. To have the chance to bring distinction to UNC is something that's incredibly special."

The Tar Heels took the lead early on Sunday, getting the gamewinner from freshman Katelyn Falgowski just over three minutes into the action. With 31:50 on the clock, she got the ball from Gey and fired a shot from the right side. "I actually couldn't even see Falgo, but I heard her screaming at me," Gey said. "I knew if I could get a little lift over the last stick, she had acres of space."

The goal was Falgowski's ninth of the season and the team's 100th. UNC finished the game with a school-record 102 on the year.

The 1-0 margin held up through the rest of the first half and nearly 10 minutes into the second.

"There's no comfort in having a one-goal lead," Dawson said. "We knew they were dangerous. We discussed at halftime that we wanted to get a few more goals to secure the victory so we didn't have to play so edgy and tight."

Dawson gave the Tar Heels a little more breathing room in the 44th minute of play. On a penalty corner, one of six that UNC had in the game, she got the ball from Falgowski and sent a hard shot toward the cage. The ball hit a Penn State foot and bounced past Nittany Lion goalkeeper Jen Beaumont for the score. Dawson's goal was her 19th of the season and gave her 56 for her career, tied for seventh on UNC's all-time list with Kate Barber.

The final Carolina goal came in the 64th minute, when sophomore Danielle Forword sent in a reverse-stick shot from the middle of the circle off a pass from Dawson. The goal was Forword's third of the weekend and 11th of the season, and she was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team along with Dawson, Falgowsi and sophomore Illse Davids.

"The game was hard-fought," Shelton said. "I give credit to Penn State. We played them earlier in the season and there was a different team out there today. They're remarkably scrappy and hardworking and really put a lot of pressure on us. They should be congratulated for giving us a real hard run in the championship game."

The title is the fifth for UNC, the first since 1997. The Tar Heels also won championships in 1989, 1995 and 1996, and all have come with Shelton at the helm. She ranks second among all Division I coaches with five championships.

The Tar Heel finished the year with a school-record 16 shutouts and also tied the school record with 24 wins.

"It's been four and five years of really hard work and determination," Gey said. "It's amazing. It feels really, really good."

No. 1 North Carolina 3, No. 9 Penn State 0
Scoring: UNC - Katelyn Falgowski (Jesse Gey), 3:10; UNC - Rachel Dawson (Falgowski), 43:18; UNC - Danielle Forword (Dawson), 63:16
Shots: UNC 12, PSU 3
Penalty corners: UNC 6, PSU 2
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 1 (Brianna O'Donnell 1, Jackie Kintzer 0), PSU 5 (Jen Beaumont)
Records: UNC 24-0, PSU 16-8