Tar Heels Advance With Win Over Tribe

Friday, November 9

Chapel Hill

12:00 PM

North Carolina

(20-0)

William & Mary (NCAA 1st round)

(12-8)

William & Mary

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 9, 2018 | Field Hockey

Box Score NCAA Bracket Photo Gallery

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Senior captain Ashley Hoffman scored twice as North Carolina shut out William & Mary 4-0 in an NCAA Tournament first-round game Friday at Karen Shelton Stadium. On a cool, rainy afternoon perhaps better suited to indoor sports, the Tar Heels earned at least one more game in their thus-far undefeated season, improving to 20-0 this fall with the win. The Tribe ended its season at 12-8.

"We're absolutely thrilled to win this NCAA game," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "I want to congratulate William & Mary on a terrific season – they played very well, they disrupted us, they beat us to balls in the first half and made it really tough for us. I know the margin was four goals but it seemed a lot closer the entire game.

"We know that was an important win to get, the first one, little bit of nerves in rainy conditions. Things we couldn't control, we handled. Not exceptionally well, but well enough to win the game. I'm thrilled that we're going to be able to regroup and play again on Sunday."

UNC will face Michigan Sunday at 1 p.m. in a second-round game at Shelton Stadium. The winner moves on to the NCAA semifinals next weekend in Louisville, Ky. The Wolverines advanced with a 3-2 win over Saint Joseph's in the second of two first-round games Friday afternoon in Chapel Hill.

Admission to Sunday's game is $5 for adults, $3 for children and free for UNC students. Fans who can't make it to the game can watch it live on the UNC Field Hockey Facebook page.

On Friday, Tar Heel freshman Erin Matson scored the gamewinner in the 18^th minute on a pass from junior Marissa Creatore. The Tar Heels added a goal on a penalty corner in the 29^th minute, on a shot by Hoffman, assisted by Matson on the insert and junior Yentl Leemans on the stop.

Up 2-0, UNC got a quick goal just a minute into the second period. Creatore passed from the baseline out to junior Catherine Hayden mid-circle, and Hayden fired a shot past the Tribe keeper for a 3-0 lead.

The Tar Heels scored one more in the 51^st minute, on one of four second-half penalty corners. Hoffman again had the goal, assisted by Matson and Leemans.

The shutout was UNC's ninth of the season. The Tar Heels have scored 92 goals this fall and given up 13.

UNC is hosting NCAA Tournament games for the 20^th time, but the first time since 2015 and the inaugural time at Shelton Stadium. The Tar Heels are 27-2 in NCAA Tournament games played at home and 63-28 all-time in NCAA Tournament play.

No. 1 UNC 4, William & Mary 0
Scoring: UNC – Erin Matson (Marissa Creatore), 17:03; UNC – Ashley Hoffman (Yentl Leemans, Matson), 28:38; UNC – Catherine Hayden (Creatore), 36:03; UNC – Hoffman (Leemans, Matson), 50:10
Shots: UNC 21 (5/16), W&M 0
Penalty corners: UNC 6 (2/4), W&M 0
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 0 (Amanda Hendry, 70:00, 0 saves, 0 goals allowed); W&M 6 (Kimi Jones, 50:10, 4 goals allowed, 1 save; Jessica Wiggins, 05:09, 2 saves, 1 goals allowed; Morgan Connor, 0 goals allowed, 3 saves)
Records: UNC 20-0, W&M 12-8

UNC Starters: Amanda Hendry, Erin Matson, Catherine Hayden, Cassie Sumfest, Ashley Hoffman, Feline Guenther, Malin Evert, Morgan Goetz, Yentl Leemans, Eva van't Hoog, Marissa Creatore

UNC Subs: Meredith Sholder, Hannah Griggs, Bryn Boylan, Abby Pitcairn, Eva Smolenaars, Courtnie Williamson, Megan DuVernois