University of North Carolina Athletics
Falgowski Juggling Hockey Responsibilities
September 8, 2011 | Field Hockey
Sept. 8, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Last weekend was an especially busy one for North Carolina senior Katelyn Falgowski. On Friday night, she captained the UNC field hockey team to a comeback win over No. 5 Syracuse. The Tar Heels, then ranked No. 2, trailed 2-0 at halftime but rebounded to win the game 3-2 and improve to 3-0 on the season.
On Saturday, Falgowski flew to San Diego to join the U.S. National Team for the start of a five-game test series against New Zealand, the sixth-ranked team in the world. Falgowski, who recently earned her 100th international cap, started for the U.S. in a 2-1 loss at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista on Sunday. On Monday, she again was in the starting lineup for a 4-0 loss before taking the red-eye back east to be in classes at UNC on Tuesday morning and at practice with the Tar Heels on Tuesday afternoon.
" We didn't get the results we wanted against New Zealand, but we out-statted them and I think it was beneficial for me to be there," said Falgowski, a preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. "It's a way for me to be able to show my dedication both to UNC and the National Team. I'm 100 percent committed to both and willing to sacrifice to reach the goals we've set."
The U.S. team continued the series with a 4-0 loss on Wednesday and upcoming games on Friday and Sunday, but Falgowski is back with the Tar Heels for a trip to Delaware this weekend. After busing north on Thursday, Carolina will face host Delaware on Friday at 4 p.m. then stay in Newark, Del., for a neutral-site game with Lafayette on Sunday at noon.
Falgowski, a communication studies major from Landenberg, Pa., was sidelined all of last season with an injury suffered in the preseason. She still served as the team captain, but was unable to play as the Tar Heels went 22-3 and finished as NCAA runner-up. She returned to the field in the spring and over the summer was named Player of the Tournament at the U.S. Field Hockey National Championships for the second year in a row. Now back for her final fall in a Carolina uniform, she has continued the high level of play that earned her All-America honors in 2009 as a junior.
"Katelyn is playing so well and with such maturity," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "Her experience on the field shows with every step - she controls the midfield for us and then plays on corner defense and offense. She truly has an impact on every minute of the game.
"Juggling college play and the National Team, along with her academics, is a very difficult undertaking. But if anyone can handle it, it's her. She is mature beyond her years, very responsible and a hard worker. She's such a key part of our program - our team captain for the second year in a row - and it's wonderful to have her back on the field for us."
Carolina's next home game is on Sept. 16, when Old Dominion visits Henry Stadium. UNC moved up to No. 1 in this week's national poll, and ODU is currently at No. 2.
