University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Duke
Carolina Claims ACC Title
November 6, 2011 | Field Hockey
Nov. 6, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Top-ranked North Carolina beat No. 8 Duke 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Maryland's Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex to claim the 2011 Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Championship, UNC's first since 2007 and 17th in program history. Second-half goals by junior Katie Ardrey and senior Elizabeth Stephens, both on penalty corners, gave the Tar Heels the crown and improved their record to 20-1 heading into the NCAA Tournament. Duke fell to 12-7 with the second loss to UNC this season.
"Anybody that competes in the ACC knows that ACC titles are special and that's especial true in field hockey because we have some of the nation's top programs," said UNC coach Karen Shelton, who has been at the helm for all 17 of the Tar Heel titles. "To win the regular season championship and then the tournament is very satisfying and rewarding for the players. I think we played some of our best hockey of the year, and I couldn't be prouder of our team."
Carolina now awaits word on its NCAA Tournament seeding. The bracket will be announced Tuesday evening and NCAA play begins on Saturday.
The first UNC-Duke matchup of the year was a 1-0 overtime win for the Tar Heels on Sept. 24 in Chapel Hill. Sunday's game also was scoreless through the first half, but the Tar Heels got on the board quickly in the second half, scoring less than five minutes after halftime on the first penalty corner of the period. Ardrey was waiting at the left side of the cage to tip in a shot by sophomore Marta Malmberg for her fifth goal of the year and her first gamewinner.
The Tar Heels went up 2-0 on their third corner of the half, when senior Elizabeth Stephens sent in a direct shot, assisted by Ardrey on the push-in and senior Katelyn Falgowski on the stick stop.
The assist was Falgowski's 59th of her career and made her UNC's all-time leader in that category.
Duke scored in the 65th minute to draw within one, 2-1. Jessica Buttinger's goal was assisted by Emmie Le Marchand.
Carolina had seven penalty corners and scored on two of its three in the second half. Duke didn't have a corner on the day, but did have three shots, while UNC finished with 10, six of them shots on goal.
Falgowski was named tournament MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by Tar Heels Kelsey Kolojejchick, Caitlin Van Sickle and Meghan Dawson.
"Katelyn played like a veteran player today, but she also had a lot of help," Shelton said. "Everybody contributed to the win. I could name every single player, plus the kids that subbed in off the bench. This was a team effort and I couldn't be prouder."
#1 UNC 2, #8 Duke 1
Scoring: UNC - Katie Ardrey (Marta Malmberg), 38:56; UNC - Elizabeth Stephens (Ardrey, Katelyn Falgowski), 47:38; DU - Jessica Buttinger (Emmie Le Marchand), 64:11
Shots: UNC 10 (4/6), Duke 3 (1/2)
Penalty corners: UNC 7 (4/3), Duke 0
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 2 (Sassi Ammer, 70:00, 2 saves, 1 goal allowed), Duke 3 (Samantha Nelson, 70:00, 3 saves, 2 goal allowed)
Defensive saves: DU 1 (Stefanie Fee)
Records: UNC 20-1, Duke 12-7
UNC starters: Sassi Ammer, Teryn Brill, Taryn Gjurich, Katie Ardrey, Kelsey Kolojejchick, Elizabeth Stephens, Caitlin Van Sickle, Meghan Dawson, Katelyn Falgowski, Marta Malmberg, Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany
UNC substitutes: Loren Shealy, Samantha Travers, Katie Plyler, Sophie Rudolph, Sinead Loughran
2011 ACC All-Tournament Team: Katelyn Falgowski - MVP (UNC); Kelsey Kolojejchick (UNC), Caitlin Van Sickle (UNC), Meghan Dawson (UNC), Rhian Jones (Duke), Stefanie Fee (Duke), Samantha Nelson (Duke), Nicole Schuster (Boston College), Jill Witmer (Maryland), Elly Buckley (Virginia), Kaitlyn Ruhf (Wake Forest)
