Carolina Earns 4-1 Win Over Iowa

Sunday, August 28

Winston-Salem, N.C.

2:00 PM

North Carolina

(1-1)

Iowa

(1-1)

Iowa

North Carolina

August 28, 2016 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After opening the season Saturday with a last-second loss, the North Carolina field hockey team found much more to enjoy in Sunday's matchup with Iowa. UNC scored early and often en route to a 4-1 win over the Hawkeyes in the Tar Heels' second game of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, played at Wake Forest's Kentner Stadium.

“This one was much more fun for the Heels to play,” UNC coach Karen Shelton said. “They did the things that we wanted to do today and I give our team credit for that. They could have hung their heads and felt sorry for themselves and instead they made the changes that they needed to make.”

All four teams participating finished the weekend 1-1 after No. 10 Michigan, which beat top-ranked UNC on Saturday, fell to the host Demon Deacons in Sunday's first game. Iowa had beaten No. 7 Wake Forest 2-1 on Saturday.

In the 11th minute of play on an afternoon so hot and sunny that the teams took a timeout for a water break in each half, the Tar Heels drew their first penalty corner of the game and made it count. Sophomore Ashley Hoffman took the initial shot, and senior Kristy Bernachez, who had been on the push-in, hustled to tip the ball in for the lead. “It wasn't a set play, but it worked out,” said Bernatchez, who, as a defender without a single goal last season, was a somewhat unlikely source for the gamewinner and the Tar Heels' first score of 2016.

In the 30th minute, UNC scored again, this time from the field. Redshirt freshman Catherine Hayden received a ball from downfield and drove toward the goal. As the goalkeeper followed her to the left, she passed across the circle to sophomore Mackenzie Mick, who had an open cage in which to place her first career goal.

The Hawkeyes didn't get off a single shot in the first half, but capitalized on two at the start of the second half. Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Halpin, who came in to play the second half in goal for Carolina, saved a shot by Iowa's Sophie Plasteras. The rebound was cleared to the right and Natalie Cafone grabbed it and sent it into the cage to get the Hawkeyes on the board and make it 2-1.

Iowa wouldn't get off another shot, however, and Carolina added two more goals down the stretch. In the 60th minute, senior Emma Bozek drove to the right baseline and then sent the ball out to freshman Megan DuVernois, who passed to senior Lauren Moyer for the goal.

With less than a minute to play, freshman Eef Andriessen got a pass from junior Gab Major and carried the ball into the circle. She worked her way around the goalkeeper and shot for an unassisted goal and a 4-1 lead for the Tar Heels.

Mick and Andriessen notched the first goals of their UNC careers while Hayden and DuVernois had their first career assists.

“I'm proud of the goals,” Shelton said. “The way we scored is good. (Today) was a much better effort and I think they feel much better about themselves.”

The Tar Heels return to action on Friday with a 4 p.m. game at Princeton. They'll play another Ivy League team, Penn, on Sunday in Philadelphia. UNC's home opener is Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. against Wake Forest.

No. 1 UNC 4, Iowa 1

Scoring: UNC – Kristy Bernatchez (Ashley Hoffman), 24:42; UNC – Mackenzie Mick (Catherine Hayden), 29:31; Iowa – Natalie Cafone, 36:56; UNC – Lauren Moyer (Megan DuVernois), 59:46; UNC – Eef Andriessen, 69:08

Shots: UNC 14 (7/7), Iowa 2 (0/2)

Penalty corners: UNC 4 (3/1), Iowa 0

Goalkeeper saves: UNC 1 (Shannon Johnson, 35:00, 0 saves, 0 goals allowed; Alex Halpin, 35:00, 1 save, 1 goal allowed); Iowa 1 (Alexandra Pecora, 70:00, 1 save, 4 goals allowed)

Records: UNC 1-1, Iowa 1-1

UNC starters: Shannon Johnson, Lauren Moyer, Kristy Bernatchez, Sam Night, Halle Frain, Ashley Hoffman, Emma Bozek, Malin Evert, Julia Young, Eva van't Hoog, Gab Major