Tar Heels Earn Weekend's Second Shutout, 3-0 over Miami

Sunday, September 20

Henry Stadium (Chapel Hill, N.C.)

2:00 PM

North Carolina

Miami (Ohio)

September 20, 2015 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The third-ranked North Carolina field hockey team completed its first homestand of the season without giving up a single goal, defeating visiting Miami (Ohio) 3-0 Sunday afternoon on the heels of a 5-0 win over No. 9 Louisville on Friday evening.

UNC is now 7-1 overall and 1-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Next up for the Tar Heels, who opened the season with six road games, is another home game. No. 11 Boston College visits Francis E. Henry Stadium on Friday for a 4 p.m. ACC matchup.

“We're delighted with the weekend and with getting two shutouts,” UNC coach Karen Shelton said. “We had to play two different styles this weekend, so that was good experience for our group. We played against a half-court today – Miami played a smart game and we had to figure it out. It was a good test for us to control the ball like we did and have the extra patience that's required when you're playing against a half-court.”

The Tar Heel gamewinner came in the 24th minute of play, when sophomore Sam Night sent a pass from the right side of the cage to senior Emily Wold, who ran to grab the ball in front of the goal and send a high shot past Miami keeper Alysa Xavier.

Wold, the team captain, assisted on the next goal, passing to freshman Malin Evert for the score in the 31st minute and a 2-0 halftime lead.

After halftime, the Tar Heels added one more, this time on a penalty corner. Freshman Ashley Hoffman scored the first goal of her college career on a direct shot from the top of the circle, assisted by sophomore Gab Major and junior Julia Young.

Junior Shannon Johnson played all 70 minutes in goal for the Tar Heels to earn her second complete shutout of the weekend and the team's third of the year.

“I'm proud of our team,” Shelton said. “I think we're growing every game, but have a long way to go still.”

But for the first time this season, the Tar Heels don't have a long way to go in the literal sense. After Sunday night trips back from Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York in the previous three weeks, the UNC players got to relax and spend time with their families after Sunday's game and will spend the evening in Chapel Hill, instead of on a bus or plane.

“Thank goodness,” Shelton said. “They'll have a day off tomorrow and a chance to rest and not be exhausted from travel. I was so pleased with the support here at Henry all weekend, and excited for our team.

“But I do think the travel, while exhausting, it's also a bonding experience. We've had a lot of chance to get to know each other. I really like the leadership we're showing, and the camaraderie and support – if you watch the bench, everyone is really into it and supporting everyone on the field.”

No. 3 UNC 3, Miami 0

Scoring: UNC – Emily Wold (Sam Night), 23:33; UNC – Malin Evert (Wold); UNC – Ashley Hoffman (Gab Major, Julia Young), 45:35

Shots: UNC 30 (12/18), MU 6 (4/2)

Penalty corners: UNC 9 (2/7), MU 1 (1/0)

Goalkeeper saves: UNC 2 (Shannon Johnson, 70:00, 2 saves, 0 goals allowed), MU 11 (Alysa Xavier, 70:00, 11 saves, 3 goals allowed)

Defensive saves: MU 2 (Avery Sturm, Mariona Heras)

Records: UNC 7-1, MU 5-4

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