University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
No. 1 Tar Heels Top No. 4 Virginia In ACC Opener
September 21, 2013 | Field Hockey
"It was a great start to the ACC season," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "Both teams competed exceptionally hard, and we were delighted to win. I thought it was a great team effort - we were tested and we played well under pressure."
The Tar Heels controlled much of the first half play and took an early lead on a goal from senior Sinead Loughran in the 20th minute. Loughran's score was the result of a passing sequence that finished with sophomore Emma Bozek sending a ball to Loughran, who shot from the left side for her second goal of the season.
UNC had nine first-half shots to two by Virginia, but just before halftime the Cavaliers made one of theirs count. With 1:39 on the first-half clock, senior Hadley Bell sent a ball into the circle and found Riley Tata in front of the net. Tata's shot got past Carolina goalkeeper Sassi Ammer to tie the score at 1-1 heading into halftime.
Play was much more even in the second half, with UNC managing four shots and UVa three. Each team had one corner. Last year's UNC-UVa matchup in Chapel Hill went to overtime, and this one was edging in the direction of an extra period before the Tar Heels put together another nice passing sequence that led to a goal. Craddock, a forward from Wolverhampton, England, exchanged the ball with sophomore Emily Wold several times as they brought it downfield. Finally Craddock dribbled to the left and sent the gamewinner past Virginia keeper Jenny Johnstone. Craddock's goal was her fourth of the season.
Ammer played all 70 minutes for the Tar Heels, making two second-half saves.
Carolina returns to action on Sunday with a 1 p.m. game at VCU.
No. 1 UNC 2, No. 4 Virginia 1
Scoring: UNC - Sinead Loughran (Emma Bozek), 19:05; UVa - Riley Tata (Hadley Bell), 33:21; UNC - Charlotte Craddock (Emily Wold), 64:51
Shots: UNC 13 (9/4), UVa 5 (2/3)
Penalty corners: UNC 4 (3/1), UVa 2 (1/1)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 2 (Sassi Ammer, 70:00, 1 goal allowed, 2 saves); UVa 7 (Jenny Johnstone, 70:00, 2 goals allowed, 7 saves)
Records: UNC 7-0, UVa 7-1
UNC starters: Sassi Ammer, Loren Shealy, Samantha Travers, Charlotte Craddock, Meghan Drake, Emily Wold, Nina Notman, Casey Di Nardo, Marta Malmberg, Abby Frey, Janne Grove
UNC substitutes: Kristy Bernatchez, Rachel Magerman, Sinead Loughran, Emma Bozek. Julia Young, Caroline Plyler, Lauren Moyer
