University of North Carolina Athletics
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Michigan
Carolina Tops Michigan in ACC-Big Ten Challenge
August 25, 2007 | Field Hockey
Aug. 25, 2007
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The North Carolina field hockey team opened the 2007 season Saturday with a 3-1 win over host Michigan in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. No. 3 UNC got a pair of goals from senior Rachel Dawson to improve to 1-0, while the No. 12 Wolverines fell to 0-1 in a rain-soaked game at Phyllis Ocker Field.
North Carolina controlled the first-half tempo and outshot the Wolverines 9-4, but the game remained scoreless at halftime. "We had a number of scoring opportunities and I was pleased with the way we had played," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "But we hadn't drawn any corners and we hadn't scored any goals."
Shelton thought her team started the second half a bit flat, but it didn't take long for the Tar Heels to shake that off and get on the board. Ten minutes into the period, they drew their first penalty corner of the game. After a save by UM goalkeeper Paige Pickett, senior Jesse Gey grabbed the rebound and scored to put UNC up 1-0.
About 10 minutes later, Dawson, who made her return to the college game after missing last season while representing the U.S. as part of the National Team, sent a penalty stroke into the lower left corner of the goal to put UNC up 2-0.
The next goal was Michigan's, as the Wolverines scored on a penalty corner to draw within one, 2-1. Lucia Belassi had the goal, assisted by Jillianne Whitfield and Michaela McDermott. Less than three minutes later, Dawson scored again to give the Tar Heels back their two-goal cushion. She was assisted by freshman Katelyn Falgowski, also National Team teammate.
For the game, UNC outshot the host team 20-9 but had only four penalty corners to Michigan's six. The Tar Heels took advantage of their opportunities though, scoring on two of those corners.
Sophomore Brianna O'Donnell and redshirt freshman Jackie Kintzer split time in goal for UNC, with O'Donnell making one save and Kintzer two while allowing the sole Michigan goal.
Carolina opened against Michigan for the sixth year in a row and won the matchup for the fifth time.
UNC is back in action on Sunday morning with a game against No. 10 Iowa, which beat No. 2 Wake Forest 3-0 in Saturday's first game.
No. 3 North Carolina 3, No. 12 Michigan 1
Scoring: UNC - Jesse Gey, 46:33: UNC - Rachel Dawson (penalty stroke), 54:49; UM - Lucia Belassi (Jillianne Whitfield, Michaela McDermott), 57:21; UNC - Dawson (Katelyn Falgowski), 60:07
Shots on goal: UNC 20, UM 9
Penalty corners: UNC 4, UM 6
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 3 (Brianna O'Donnell 1, Jackie Kintzer 2), UM 7 (Paige Pickett)
Records: UNC 1-0, UM 0-1
UNC starters: Brianna O'Donnell, Riley Foster, Alli Tanner, Heather Kendell, Rachel Dawson, Melanie Brill, Jesse Gey, Laree Beans, Elizabeth Drazdowski, Katelyn Falgowski, Xan Funk
UNC substitutes: Kiki Norbruis, Kate Scholl, Britt van Beek, Hilary Hartman, Meghan Dawson, Liz Morris, Jackie Kintzer, Jen Slocum, Casey Burns
