Carolina Falls To Virginia In ACC TItle Game

Sunday, November 6

Winston-Salem, N.C.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

(17-5, 3-3ACC)

Virginia (ACC Championship Game)

(15-7, 3-3ACC)

Virginia

North Carolina

November 6, 2016 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The fifth-ranked North Carolina field hockey team fell in the final game of the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Sunday, 4-2 to No. 7 Virginia, which claimed its first ACC crown. The Tar Heels are now 17-5 on the year and await tonight's announcement of the 2016 NCAA Tournament field.

The loss marked the highest scoring total UNC has given up this season, as well as the first time all fall the Tar Heels have been either out-shot or out-cornered. Sunday, they were both and couldn't mount a third consecutive comeback win to defend their 2015 ACC title.

“Congratulations to Virginia,” UNC coach Karen Shelton said. “They played better than us today. They played hard and fast, they put pressure on us and got us on our back foot a little bit. I give them all the credit in the world.”

Virginia scored in the 16th minute on a penalty corner, the team's second of the afternoon. Erin Shanahan had the goal on a direct hit, assisted by Ansel Viljoen and Laura Schnatmeier. UNC evened it up in the 23rd minute, when Ashley Hoffman sent a ball in to Gab Major at the left side of the cage. Major's goal from close range was her ninth of the season and tied the game at 1-1.

The tie was short-lived however, as Virginia pulled ahead just over four minutes later on a goal by Izzy McDonough, assisted by Lucy Hyams. The Cavaliers led 2-1 at halftime and increased their lead to two with another goal in the 48th minute, again by Viljoen.

UNC called a timeout with 12:42 to play and pulled goalkeeper Alex Halpin in favor of an extra field player. The Tar Heels were able to get a goal four minutes later when Lauren Moyer scored on a penalty corner, assisted by Major and Julia Young. But Virginia earned a corner two minutes after that and, with no UNC goalkeeper, was able to score. Hyams had the goal, assisted by Tara Vittese.

“We never like to get to that point (of pulling the keeper), but when you're two goals down you have no choice,” Shelton said. “We were able to get one back in a hurry and that changes the complexion of he game. Then we made a mistake to give up a penalty corner. Against a team like Virginia, it's hard to defend a penalty corner without a goalkeeper.”

Young, Hoffman and Moyer represented UNC as part of the All-ACC Tournament Team. All three were instrumental as the Tar Heels mounted comeback wins against No. 8 Louisville in the quarterfinals on Thursday and No. 1 Duke in the semifinals on Friday to reach the championship game.

The NCAA Division I Field Hockey Selection Show will air online tonight at 10 p.m. To watch, click here.

After a strong regular season and conference tournament, UNC expects to receive an at-large bid. The Tar Heels have played in the NCAA Tournament more times than any other school, and a bid in 2016 would make for their 33rd overall appearance and 14th in a row. First and second round games will be played on campus sites Nov. 12 and 13, with the bracket's top four seeds hosting.

“For us going forward, we regroup for the national championship,” Shelton said. “We know we're playing next Saturday – the question is who are we going to play and where are we going to play.

“I think there's a great confidence within our team. On any given day there are probably eight teams that can win the national championship and we are one of those teams. We didn't have it today, but we certainly hope to have it by next weekend. We'll get back to the drawing board and look to get better.”

No. 7 Virginia 4, No. 5 UNC 2

Scoring: UVA – Erin Shanahan (Anzel Viljoen, Laura Schnatmeier), 15:06; UNC – Gab Major (Ashley Hoffman), 22:46; UVA – Izzy McDonough (Lucy Hyams), 26:49; UVA – Viljoen (Tara Vittese), 47:52; UNC – Lauren Moyer (Gab Major, Julia Young), 61:08; UVA – Hyams (Vittese), 63:38

Shots: UNC 13 (5/8), UVA 17 (9/8)

Penalty corners: UNC 8 (2/6), UVA 9 (4/5)

Goalkeeper saves: UNC 4 (Alex Halpin, 57:19, 3 goals allowed, 4 saves; Team, 12:42, 1 goal allowed); UVA 6 (Carrera Lucas, 70:00, 2 goals allowed, 6 saves)

Records: UNC 17-5, UVA 15-7

UNC starters: Alex Halpin, Lauren Moyer, Kristy Bernatchez, Eef Andriessen, Ashley Hoffman, Emma Bozek, Malin Evert, Julia Young, Morgan Goetz, Eva van't Hoog, Gab Major