North Carolina
Villanova
Tar Heels Top Villanova At Vonnie Gros Classic
September 8, 2007 | Field Hockey
Sept. 8, 2007
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - After trailing 2-1 at halftime, the second-ranked North Carolina field hockey team roared back to win 7-2 against Villanova Saturday afternoon at the Vonnie Gros Classic, hosted by West Chester University. Seven different players scored for the Tar Heels, who improved to 5-0 on the season. Villanova, which is not ranked but is receiving votes in the national poll, fell to 2-2.
Sophomore Danielle Forword scored UNC's first goal just 40 seconds into the game, and the Tar Heels led 1-0 until the final 10 minutes of the half. Then Villanova put in two goals in less than a minute to leave Carolina trailing for the first time this season. The first goal came about 25 minutes into the game on Villanova's only penalty corner of the afternoon. Stephanie Campbell scored on the direct shot, assisted by Jenn Nazarethian and Megan Ryan. On the Wildcats' next trip down the field, Nazarethian collected a loose ball and got it past UNC goalkeeper Brianna O'Donnell to put Villanova up 2-1.
"We stayed calm at halftime," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "We knew we'd had our chances and there was no reason to panic." The Tar Heels had 12 shots and six corners in the first half but struggled a bit to adjust to playing on the dry turf.
It didn't take UNC long to reclaim the lead in the second half. Senior Laree Beans scored on an assist from freshman Katelyn Falgowski to tie the score six minutes into the period. Just over six minutes later, senior Jesse Gey scored the gamewinner, and the Tar Heels never looked back. Sophomore Melanie Brill had the next goal on another assist from Falgowski, then junior Britt van Beek made the score 5-2 on an assist from Gey. Elizabeth Drazdowski scored the sixth goal and redshirt freshman Jen Slocum finished out the scoring with the first goal of her career two minutes from the end of the game.
UNC outshot the Wildcats 17-0 in the second half, 29-3 for the game. The Tar Heels drew 10 second-half penalty corners.
"I give a lot of credit to Villanova," Shelton said. "They're a hard-working team and they put a lot of pressure on you. I feel good about the way they forced us to play. Our kids had to work hard and I think this game will help us."
UNC plays the host Golden Rams on Sunday in the final game of the weekend. West Chester (3-1) beat Monmouth 9-0 in Saturday's first game.
No. 2 North Carolina 7, Villanova 2
Scoring: UNC - Danielle Forword, 0:40; VU - Stephanie Campbell (Jenn Nazarethian, Megan Ryan), 25:27; VU - Nazarethian, 26:21; UNC - Laree Beans (Katelyn Falgowski), 40:57; UNC - Jesse Gey, 40:57; UNC - Melanie Brill (Falgowski); UNC - Britt van Beek (Gey), 55:59; UNC - Elizabeth Drazdowski, 58:03; UNC - Jen Slocum (Illse Davids), 68:04
Shots: UNC 29, VU 3
Penalty corners: UNC 16, VU 1
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 1 (Brianna O'Donnell 1, Jackie Kintzer 0), VU 13 (Maura McCormick)
Records: UNC 5-0, Villanova 202
UNC starters: Brianna O'Donnell, Riley Foster, Kiki Norbruis, Rachel Dawson, Melanie Brill, Jesse Gey, Laree Beans, Elizabeth Drazdowski, Meghan Dawson, Danielle Forword, Katelyn Falgowski
UNC substitutes: Illse Davids, Alli Tanner, Britt van Beek, Hilary Hartman, Liz Morris, Jen Slocum, Jackie Kintzer, Casey Burns
