University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
(19-2)
Boston University (NCAA Championship first round)
(15-7)
Top-Ranked UNC Advances With Win Over No. 15 BU
November 14, 2015 | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C . – Top-ranked North Carolina advanced to the second round of NCAA Field Hockey Championship play with a 4-2 win over No. 15 Boston University Saturday afternoon in a first-round game at Francis E. Henry Stadium. The Tar Heels will take on No. 10 Michigan on Sunday at 2 p.m. for a spot in national semifinals.
Michigan, which will host to the NCAA semifinals and final next weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich., advanced with a 2-1 win over No. 7 Wake Forest in a game that also was played at Henry Stadium.
Admission to Sunday's second-round game between UNC and UM is $5 per person, with kids 6 and under admitted free. Parking is available in the Boshamer Lot, located across Ridge Road from Henry Stadium.
“I'm very proud of our team,” UNC coach Karen Shelton said. “I thought it was a good opening round match. I thought we had some tournament jitters early in the game and getting the first goal was important for us. We started to move the ball a little bit better as the game went on.”
Senior Nina Notman scored UNC's first two goals in a span of just over four minutes. In the 14th minute of play, she took the shot on UNC's first penalty corner of the game and had it blocked out of bounds. Just after the restart Notman got off another shot and this one went in cleanly, putting the Tar Heels up 1-0. In the 19th minute, Notman carried the ball into the circle and rifled a shot past BU goalkeeper Cammy Jensen for a 2-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Carolina freshman Ashley Hoffman scored on back-to-back penalty corners to make it 4-0 Tar Heels. The first came in the 50th minute and was assisted by junior Julia Young and sophomore Gab Major. The second was in the 60th minute and was assisted by Young and freshman Eva van't Hoog. “I'm really proud of Ashley Hoffman,” Shelton said. “She had two goals and I thought she played an awesome game on the defensive side.”
Both Terrier goals came in the final five minutes of play. Amanda Cassera scored in the 66th minute, assisted by Rachel Feig, to end UNC's shutout attempt. A minute later Sofi Laurito launched a reverse stick shot from the top of the circle that got by UNC keeper Shannon Johnson to make the final score 4-2.
UNC is making its 32nd appearance in the NCAA Championship and has reached the tournament more times than any other team. The Tar Heels also hold the record for games played, with Saturday the Tar Heels' 80th.
Sunday's game will be the second meeting of the season for UNC and Michigan. Their first meeting was in the season opener for both teams on Aug. 29, when the Tar Heels won 2-1 in Ann Arbor.
No. 1 UNC 4, No. 15 Boston University 2
Scoring: UNC – Nina Notman, 13:52; UNC – Notman, 18:01; UNC – Ashley Hoffman (Julia Young, Gab Major), 49:23; UNC – Hoffman (Young, Eva van't Hoog), 59:36; BU – Amanda Cassera (Rachel Feig), 65:02; BU – Sofi Laurito, 66:04
Shots: UNC 24 (15/9), BU 6 (2/4)
Penalty corners: UNC 6 (3/3), BU 3 (3/0)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 0 (Shannon Johnson, 70:00, 0 saves, 2 goals allowed), BU 7 (Cammy Jensen, 70:00, 7 saves, 4 goals allowed)
Records: UNC 19-2, BU 15-7
Team Stats
Nina Notman (13)
Off the restart at the top of the circle
13:52
Nina Notman (14)
Hard shot from top of circle
18:01
Ashley Hoffman (5)
Assisted By: Julia Young , Gab Major
From the top of the circle off a penalty
49:23
Ashley Hoffman (6)
Assisted By: Eva van't Hoog , Julia Young
From mid circle off a penalty corner
59:36
Cassera, Amanda (7)
Assisted By: Feig, Rachel
Second chance shot
65:02
Laurito, Sofi (16)
Reverse stick from top of circle
66:04
