North Carolina Falls In National Championship Game

Sunday, November 22

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

(21-3)

Syracuse (NCAA Championship)

(21-1)

Team	1	2	Final F
North Carolina	0	2	2
Syracuse	2	2	4

November 22, 2015 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – North Carolina made a second-half comeback but ultimately fell short in its quest for the seventh NCAA Field Hockey Championship in program history, losing 4-2 to Syracuse Sunday in the national title game at the University of Michigan's Phyllis Ocker Field. The Tar Heels, ranked No. 1 in the nation and seeded No. 2 in the tournament field, finished their season 21-3. The Orange (21-1) won its first NCAA crown.

“I'd like to congratulate Syracuse on winning the national championship and also thank the University of Michigan for the fabulous job they've done, making the field playable and hosting us,” UNC coach Karen Shelton said. “Their hospitality and graciousness was very impressive. They do it right here.”

Ten inches of snow fell in Ann Arbor on Saturday, a record for a one-day span in November, and temperatures were still below freezing at gametime Sunday afternoon. But Ocker Field was protected by a tarp during the snow, and thus was clear and playable, with the only adaptation being that the field wasn't watered due to the cold temperatures.

The teams came into the game having split the season's meetings, with SU winning 4-2 in Syracuse in the regular season and UNC winning 2-1 in overtime in the ACC Championship final two weeks earlier. The Tar Heels scored first in both of those games, but this time it was the Orange who jumped out ahead, scoring twice in the first half. In the ninth minute, Emma Russell scored on a shot from the left side of the cage on a pass from Liz Sack. In the 18th minute the Orange added another when Alma Fenne carried the ball into the circle and reversed a shot into the right side of the cage.

“The early goal set us back and we became more hesitant that what I would like,” Shelton said. “But at halftime we just said, “You've got to go for it. It's the national championship game, you've got to fight. Who cares if you lose, but go down swinging,' and they did that, and got back into the game.”

The Tar Heels came out of the locker room down 2-0 but scored quickly. Just over two minutes into the second half, senior Nina Notman sent a pass into the circle to freshman Malin Evert, who aimed it to the right side of the cage, where sophomore Gab Major deflected it in to pull UNC within one.

In the 56th minute, the Tar Heels tied the game. Senior Casey Di Nardo sent the ball out from the right baseline to Evert, who was positioned in mid-circle. The freshman forward sent high shot just inside the left post to even the game at 2-2.

“At that point I felt pretty good about our chances,” Shelton said. “But we needed to get the next goal.”

Syracuse quickly called a timeout, and managed to retake the lead. In the 59th minute, the Orange scored on a penalty corner, its only one of the second half, to pull ahead again. Zoe Wilson scored the goal on an assist from Lies Lagerweij.

With nine minutes remaining, Shelton called a timeout and pulled goalkeeper Shannon Johnson in favor of another field player, forward Sam Night. With an open cage, Syracuse got behind the UNC defense and scored again with Emma Lamison on the goal and Russell adding the assist.

Syracuse played five minutes down the stretch a player down after Fenne received a yellow card with 6:18 to play, but the Tar Heels were unable to score again. UNC earned a corner with just under three minutes to play, got off a shot, and was ultimately awarded a penalty stroke, which was upheld after Syracuse called for a video review. But SU keeper Jess Jecko made the save on Notman's shot to keep the score at 4-2.

Evert, Notman and junior Julia Young were named to the All-Tournament team.

“I loved the leadership of this group all year and I'm very proud of the way they fought and gave it every thing they had to try to bring home the championship for the University of North Carolina,” Shelton said. “Our seniors have helped set a tone and set a culture that the team has embraced. I do like our future – things are good in Chapel Hill. But I think it's a shame we didn't win today. I've had a lot of teams and this group was special. I particularly hate it for the four seniors that they didn't win this championship. I so wanted it for them.”

The game was the last in a UNC uniform for captain Emily Wold, Notman, Di Nardo and redshirt junior Rachel Black, who will forgo her final season of eligibility in favor of graduate school.

“It stinks losing, but this has been the most incredible season for me,” Wold said. “It would have been the cherry on top winning the national championship and it's unfortunate that in my four years I haven't gotten that, but I'm lucky enough to have two ACC titles. To play with the players I have in the past and now the ones younger than me, it's so amazing to see the growth and development. I can't wait to watch in the years to come what UNC is going to do. I know there will be a championship soon.”

No. 2 Syracuse 4, No. 1 UNC 2

Scoring: SU – Emma Russell (Liz Sack), 8:30; SU – Alma Fenne, 17:56; UNC – Gab Major (Malin Evert), 37:10; UNC – Evert (Casey Di Nardo); SU – Zoe Wilson (Lies Lagerweij), 58:39; SU – Emma Lamison (Russell), 63:42

Shots: UNC 7 (1/6), SU 5 (2/3)

Penalty corners: UNC 3 (1/2), SU 3 (2/1)

Goalkeeper saves: UNC 0 (Shannon Johnson, 60:56, 0 saves, 3 goals allowed); SU 5 (Jess Jecko, 70:00, 5 saves, 2 goals allowed)

Records: UNC 21-3, SU 21-1

UNC starters: Shannon Johnson, Lauren Moyer, Kristy Bernatchez, Emily Wold, Nina Notman, Ashley Hoffman, Malin Evert, Julia Young, Casey Di Nardo, Eva van't Hoog, Gab Major