UNC Earns Shutout Win At No. 8 Princeton

Friday, September 1

Princeton, N.J.

4:00 PM

North Carolina

(2-1)

Princeton

(0-1)

North Carolina

Princeton

Senior Gab Major scored UNC's second goal on Friday at Princeton.

September 1, 2017 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

PRINCETON, N.J. – UNC earned a top-10 field hockey win and its second-consecutive shutout Friday afternoon with a 2-0 victory at eighth-ranked Princeton. Playing at the Tigers' Bedford Field, the Tar Heels got an early goal from freshman Meredith Sholder and a late one from senior Gab Major to improve to 2-1 on the season.

"We're delighted to get a shutout against Princeton," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "They had a great crowd, the whole football team was there and they were loud. Our kids found a way to win and get the shutout. It was a great team effort and it required mental and physical toughness."

Sholder, making her first career start, opened the scoring in the fourth minute of play. She stole the ball just outside the arc, carried it into the circle and sent a long shot from the left side into the cage to put UNC up 1-0 with her first goal as a Tar Heel.

Carolina held that one-goal lead for almost 60 minutes of play, a span that included a penalty stroke attempt by the Tigers. On their first penalty corner of the second half, they were awarded a stroke, and Ryan McCarthy subbed into the game to take the shot. With just over 13 minutes to play in the game, the Tiger senior sent a low ball just inside the right post, and UNC keeper Amanda Hendry dove to her left to bat it away. It marked the second game in a row that Hendry has saved an opponent's penalty stroke attempt.

"That was a big momentum shift," Shelton said. "She's lifted our team these last couple games and I'm proud of her."

In the 62nd minute of play, Sholder sent a pass to Major at the left post and the senior redirected the ball behind the Princeton keeper and into the cage for a 2-0 lead.

"We made progress from last week to this week, but I know we can play better," Shelton said. "We allowed Princeton to dictate play at some points. There were several shifts in momentum but we were able to stay strong and solid and swing momentum back in our direction."

Next up for Carolina is another road game against an Ivy League opponent. UNC heads for Philadelphia Friday night and will play Penn there on Sunday at noon.

No. 1 UNC 2, No. 8 Princeton 0
Scoring: UNC – Meredith Sholder, 3:36; UNC – Gab Major (Sholder), 61:33
Shots: UNC 10 (4/6), Princeton 6 (2/4)
Penalty Corners: UNC 3 (1/2), Princeton 3 (1/2)
Goalkeeper Saves: UNC 4 (Amanda Hendry, 70:00, 4 saves, 0 goals allowed); Princeton 4 (Grace Baylis, 70:00, 3 saves, 2 goals allowed)
Defensive Saves: Princeton 1 (Mary Kate Neff)
Records: UNC 2-1, Princeton 0-1

UNC starters: Amanda Hendry (GK), Meredith Sholder, Cassie Sumfest, Ashley Hoffman, Feline Guenther, Malin Evert, Morgan Goetz, Eva Smolenaars, Eva van't Hoog, Gab Major, Marissa Creatore
UNC substitutes: Bryn Boylan, Catherine Hayden, Eef Andriessen, Kathryn Holland, Courtnie Williamson, Megan DuVernois