Senior Spotlight: Eva van't Hoog

In the final days of the 2018 season, as the top-ranked Tar Heels prepare to play in the NCAA championship game on Sunday, GoHeels.com will spotlight the seniors ending their UNC careers this weekend. Read on for more on Eva van't Hoog, a midfielder and communication studies major from Den Haag, Netherlands.

Matt Penner
UNC Athletic Communications
One thing was apparent to Eva van't Hoog when she visited UNC for the first time: the Carolina Family.

"They were so nice to me," she says. "Not like the others were mean to me, but they were so welcoming, and the coaching staff as well."

Van't Hoog came to UNC from the Netherlands, were she played for the Dutch Under-16 National Team. She's one of the team's leaders and a major reason why the Tar Heels are undefeated this season.

However, van't Hoog experienced plenty of adversity upon arriving at Carolina. First, she recalls the tough adjustment to the United States. She says classes were "for sure" the toughest thing about adjusting to UNC and struggled her first semester on campus. Furthermore, van't Hoog was used to a different style of play. She describes the style in the Netherlands as "more technical" than the physical nature that she had to adapt to in college. Though it was tough, she credits coach Karen Shelton for helping her get into shape.

"Running-wise I had to improve and strength and conditioning-wise," van't Hoog says. "That's what I focused on in the spring of my freshman year."

After talking about the transition to the United States, she immediately emphasizes how everyone in the program was "so nice" to her. The same family who welcomed her during her first visit was there to help her through the transition. van't Hoog recalls not realizing the coaching staff was so "open to communication," but soon realized she can talk to them about anything.

Now, van't Hoog is one of the leaders of North Carolina's offense that averages 4.6 goals per game. The midfielder has a knack for dribbling into the heart of the defense to create opportunities for herself and her teammates. Her play earned her All-America honors as a junior and has led to All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament recognition this year. She has six goals and seven assists on the year, and 25 goals and 31 assists during her career at Carolina.

Her teammates and coaches recognize her drive and importance to the team. In 2017, van't Hoog was the team's recipient of both the Laree Beans Practice Player of the Year Award and Lingo Award as Players' Player of the Year. The former goes to the player who maintains the highest level of intensity in practices throughout the year, and the latter goes to the "player who represents Carolina with the most dedication, commitment, and intensity."

Van't Hoog plans to play professionally after the season, but she's trying to hold off the thought of not playing with her fellow seniors beyond this season. She's particularly focused since it's her last chance at a national championship, but she says the team has a "we play for the seniors" attitude. Furthermore, she's beyond thankful for the community she's been supported by throughout college.

"They're like my best friends," she says. "All of them are my best friends. I can't imagine going back home after it ends. I think it's going to be so weird being so far away from each other."

If Carolina is to win the national championship on Sunday, the team will need the drive and passion that has defined van't Hoog's career.

Players Mentioned

Eva van't Hoog

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