University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Gets Tough Competition On Netherlands Trip
June 1, 2014 | Field Hockey
LEIDEN, Netherlands - The sport of field hockey was in the spotlight on the third day of the UNC field hockey team's trip to Holland. After resting up from the travel and touring Leiden the first day and visiting the World Cup venue on the second, on Sunday it was time to get to work.
The Tar Heels started the day with a morning practice session at a local hockey club then returned to the same pitch about four hours later for a matchup with HDM, a first-level club team that also included players from the Dutch Under-18 team.
Carolina fell 2-0 in the scrimmage, giving up a goal in each half, but benefitted from the experience. "It was a great first game in Holland for us," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "We haven't scrimmaged 11-a-side in about a month so it's nice to get out there and play 11-a-side and play as well as we did.
"That was outstanding competition - that's what we were looking for when we decided to make this trip. We're honored to play against some of the junior national team players - they're young but they're playing at the highest level. They challenged us and we wanted that. "
HDM scored about seven minutes into the game, getting a diving shot around starting keeper Sassi Ammer, who also made two saves in the half. The Dutch team scored again about halfway through the second period, on a tip of a long ball in front of the circle. Splitting the game with Ammer, Carolina goalkeeper Shannon Johnson made six saves, including one on a penalty stroke, as HDM fired 11 shots in the second period after getting off four in the first.
UNC finished with three shots, two of them in the second half. HDM had three corners, and the Tar Heels had none.
"Our kids responded well to this challenge," Shelton said. "I think we have lots of room for improvement throughout the course of this trip, and this was a good start."
The Tar Heels will play twice more on this trip. On Thursday, they take on the S.V. Kampong club team in Utrecht. Next Sunday, June 8, the final full day of trip, they'll play MHC Voordaan. UNC returns to the U.S. on June 9.
- The UNC players and coaches also were highly invested in another game going on nearby on Sunday. The U.S. National Women's Team opened play at the World Cup in The Hague, beating England 2-1. Former UNC player Kelsey Kolojejchick scored the team's second goal, and goalkeeper Jackie Kintzer, another former Carolina player, was roundly lauded for an outstanding performance in goal. Also on the team are former UNC players Rachel Dawson and Katelyn Falgowski and current player Emily Wold, a rising junior. UNC was able to watch and follow the game online before departing for its own competition on Sunday. The U.S. next plays on Tuesday, and UNC will be in the stands.
