North Carolina
Michigan (ACC-Big Ten Challenge)
Carolina Tops Michigan 5-1 To Open Season
August 30, 2014 | Field Hockey
In the second game of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, No. 20 Iowa beat No. 11 Wake Forest 4-1. On Sunday, the teams will switch opponents, with UNC facing Iowa at 11:30 a.m. and Wake Forest facing Michigan at 2 p.m. at Henry Stadium. There is no charge for admission to the games.
"I thought it was a wonderful way to begin the season," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "We came out with a lot of energy, had good vision, and we were passing the ball pretty well. Everyone contributed to this win - I'm really proud.
Junior Casey Di Nardo kicked off the Tar Heels' scoring for the season with what would prove to be the gamewinner. After a shot by Charlotte Craddock was saved, Di Nardo grabbed the rebound and put it back for a 1-0 lead just over eight minutes into the game.
A minute later, the Tar Heels added another. In the midst of a scramble in front of the goal, junior Emma Bozek found the ball and put it in the cage to give UNC a 2-0 lead.
The third goal came in the 22nd minute, when a shot by Bozek bounced off a Michigan player and into the path of senior Loren Shealy, whose shot put UNC up 3-0 at halftime.
"I was really pleased to get ahead early and carry the three-goal lead into halftime," Shelton said. "One of our goals coming out of halftime was to get two quick ones and we got two within the first 10 minutes - that's the way you put a team away. It gave us the ability to rest some legs, which is important in a tournament situation like this."
In the second half, UNC scored on its first penalty corner of the period, just over a minute into the action. Junior Nina Notman had the shot, on the stick stop from Emily Wold and insert from Shealy.
In the 44th minute, freshman Gab Major scored on an unassisted shot from the top right of the circle that sailed into the left side of the cage.
Michigan's goal came with 11:58 to play on a shot by junior Jaime Dean. When UNC keeper Shannon Johnson came out to play the ball, Dean sent a shot past her and into the goal to put the Wolverines on the board.
"Our gameplan for today was to have good vision, move the ball and play solid, disciplined defense, which I really think we did," Shelton said. "Sam Travers was a rock back there, and she quarterbacked the team really well from behind. I thought Emily Wold was tremendous, I thought Charlotte Craddock played a great game, Loren Shealy played well, Emma Bozek ... you just can't say enough about any one player - so many people played well. It was a great team effort and I'm delighted with the win."
Four players saw the first game action of their UNC careers. True freshman Major and redshirt freshmen Blissie Du Bose, Sam Night and Jessica Pereira all subbed into the game.
No. 2 UNC 5, No. 17 Michigan 1
Scoring: UNC - Casey Di Nardo, 8:08; UNC - Emma Bozek, 9:07; UNC - Loren Shealy, 21:12; UNC - Nina Notman (Emily Wold, Loren Shealy), 36:36; UNC - Gab Major, 43:40; UM - Jaime Dean, 58:02
Shots: UNC - 21 (15/6); UM - 5 (3/2)
Penalty corners: UNC - 6 (1/5); UM - 2 (2/0)
Saves: UNC - Shannon Johnson, 70:00, 2 saves, 1 goal allowed; UM - Chris Lueb, 35:00, 7 saves, 3 goals allowed; Sam Swenson, 35:00, 1 save, 2 goals allowed
Records: UNC 1-0, UM 0-1
UNC starters: Shannon Johnson, Loren Shealy, Samantha Travers, Charlotte Craddock, Emily Wold, Nina Notman, Emma Bozek, Julia Young, Lauren Moyer, Casey Di Nardo, Abby Frey
UNC substitutes: Jessica Pereira, Kristy Bernatchez, Sam Night, Rachel Black, Blissie Du Bose, Gab Major
