Major's Hat Trick Combines With Solid Defense For Victory

Friday, September 25

Henry Stadium (Chapel Hill, N.C.)

4:00 PM

North Carolina

Boston College

September 25, 2015 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Sophomore Gab Major scored three times in just over three minutes and the Tar Heel defense earned a third consecutive shutout as the North Carolina field hockey team beat No. 11 Boston College 5-0 on Friday afternoon at Francis E. Henry Stadium. Playing in rainy conditions throughout, second-ranked UNC improved to 8-1 overall and 2-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play with the win, while the Eagles fell to 5-4 (0-2 ACC).

“I'm very proud of the team today,” UNC coach Karen Shelton said. “I thought we played a full 70 minutes of hockey and we're continuing to grow as a team. We moved the ball really, really well.

“Boston College is a good team and we were very worried about this game. Our kids just started from the opening whistle and were unselfish, had a lot of off-ball movement. We stayed patient – we put a lot of pressure on them early and couldn't get a goal, but just stayed with the process and didn't get frustrated, and then they started to fall.”

Despite early chances, the Tar Heels didn't score their first goal until the 22nd minute, when they were awarded a penalty stroke. Senior Nina Notman calmly rifled the ball into the lower left corner of the cage for a 1-0 lead and the gamewinner.

Just before halftime, UNC strengthened its lead when freshman Eva van't Hoog sent a cross from the right side into the circle and senior Casey Di Nardo redirected it to score her fifth goal of the year, this one from the front of the cage with 28 seconds on the first-half clock.

In the 58th minute of play, Major got a ball from senior Emily Wold at the top of the circle, spun and sent a shot into the goal to make it 3-0. Just 51 seconds later Major got another, when her initial shot was saved but she grabbed the rebound in the middle of a scrum in front of the cage and was able to put it back for a 4-0 lead.

In the 61st minute on a penalty corner, freshman Ashley Hoffman's shot from the top of the circle was saved but Major got the rebound on the left side and put it back for her first career hat trick and a 5-0 lead. The scoring output matched UNC's highest of the season, achieved twice prior to the B.C. game. The Tar Heels are now averaging 3.44 goals per game.

Following the third home game of the season, UNC has yet to give up a goal at Henry Stadium in 2015. The Tar Heels are allowing just 1.11 goals per game fourth shutout of the year.

“We always want to have a shutout and we didn't start out the season very well in that regard, but we're moving people around positionally and it's nice to see us get the clean sheet,” Shelton said. “I thought Julia Young was outstanding in the back. Shannon Johnson had a couple of critical saves, so kudos to her too. All of the back four did a great job.”

Next up for UNC is a Sunday afternoon game in Boone, N.C., against Appalachian State. Tar Heel alum Meghan Dawson is in her first year as the Mountaineers' head coach.

No. 2 UNC 5, No. 11 Boston College 0

Scoring: UNC – Nina Notman (penalty stroke), 21:31; UNC – Casey Di Nardo (Eva van't Hoog), 34:32; UNC – Gab Major (Emily Wold), 57:07; UNC – Major, 57:58; UNC – Major, 60:17.

Shots: UNC 26 (14/12); BC 7 (4/3)

Penalty corners: UNC 8 (3/5), BC 7 (4/3)

Saves: UNC 4 (Shannon Johnson, 70:00, 4 saves, 0 goals allowed); BC 13 (Leah Settipane, 70:00, 13 saves, 5 goals allowed)

Records: UNC 8-1 (2-1 ACC), BC 5-4 (0-2 ACC)

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