University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Michigan (ACC-Big Ten Challenge)
Carolina Opens Campaign With Win Over Michigan
August 29, 2009 | Field Hockey
Aug. 29, 2009
IOWA CITY, Iowa - North Carolina opened the 2009 field hockey season Saturday with a 2-1 win over Michigan at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, hosted by Iowa. After trailing 1-0, the fourth-ranked Tar Heels scored in the 59th minute and again in the 64th to earn the win.
"It was a great opening win for us - we played hard and I'm proud of the team for coming back," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "When we went down a goal, we raised our level of play. It was great to see Kelsey Kolojejchick get the gamewinning goal in her first start, and Dani Forword have a goal and an assist for us. Overall, it was a great effort - we found a way to win the game."
Following a scoreless first half, No. 19 Michigan took the lead at the 49:02 mark on a penalty corner goal by Meredith Way. Paige Laytos and Katie Adams assisted on the play.
The Tar Heels trailed for more than 10 minutes before tying the score on a penalty corner goal of their own. At the 59:46 mark, senior Danielle Forword got UNC on the board, with assists to Riley Foster and Katelyn Falgowski. The game was a return to the field for Forward, who was Carolina's leading scorer last season but missed the final eight games of the season after suffering a knee injury, which she rehabilitated during the offseason.
Just under four minutes later, UNC took the lead on freshman Kelsey Kolojejchick's first career goal. The midfielder from Larksville, Pa., scored off a rebound, with the assist going to Forword, the team captain.
Although the score was close, UNC outshot Michigan by a significant margin, 21-2. Carolina had 12 corners to seven by the Wolverines. "We created a lot of scoring opportunities," Shelton said. "It's a credit to the Michigan defense, and their goalkeeper Paige Pickett in particular, for playing so well."
Junior Jackie Kintzer played all 70 minutes in the goal for UNC, making one save. Paige Pickett made 10 saves for Michigan.
Four players made their UNC debuts, with redshirt freshman Caitlin Van Sickle and true freshmen Kelsey Kolojejchick and Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany in the starting lineup, and true freshman Katie Ardrey coming off the bench.
UNC returns to action on Sunday, with a 12:30 (ET) game against the host Iowa Hawkeyes. Wake Forest beat Iowa in Saturday's first game, giving the ACC a sweep in the event's opening day.
No. 4 North Carolina 2, No. 19 Michigan 1
Scoring: UM - Meredith Way (Paige Laytos, Katie Adams), penalty corner, 49:02; UNC - Danielle Forword (Riley Foster, Katelyn Falgowski), penalty corner, 59:46; UNC - Kelsey Kolojejchick (Forword), 63:37
Shots: UNC 21 (12/9); UM 2 (1/1)
Penalty corners: UNC 7 (3/4); UM 2 (1/1)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 1 (Jackie Kintzer); UM 10 (Paige Pickett)
Records: UNC 1-0, Michigan 0-1
UNC starters: Jackie Kintzer, Illse Davids, Riley Foster, Melanie Brill, Kelsey Kolojejchick, Elizabeth Drazdowski, Caitlin Van Sickle, Meghan Dawson, Danielle Forword, Katelyn Falgowski, Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany
UNC substitutes: Charlotte Verstraten, Taryn Gjurich, Katie Ardrey, Elizabeth Stephens, Jen Slocum
