GoHeels Exclusive: Defense Setting The Tone For Tar Heels

Saturday, September 29

Chapel Hill

1:00 PM

North Carolina

Syracuse

The Tar Heel defense has allowed just three goals this fall.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 29, 2018 | Field Hockey, Featured Writers

By: Pat James

By Pat James, GoHeels.com

Just over five minutes remained in Wednesday's match at newly-named Karen Shelton Stadium when the North Carolina and Virginia field hockey teams gathered near their respective benches during a replay review.

The top-ranked Tar Heels had dominated until then, and a 3-0 win was all but secured. So with the Cavaliers staring down their third shutout loss, senior Nikki Freeman shifted her teammates' focus, imploring them to score at least once before time expired.

That, however, has proven to be difficult against this UNC defense. And that's largely why Carolina (9-0) is off to its best start since 2010.

Entering Friday, the Tar Heels ranked first nationally in goals allowed (3) and goals against average (.33). They also led the country with six shutouts, their most through nine matches since the 2009 NCAA championship team posted seven. Wednesday's shutout against Virginia marked UNC's fourth straight.

"They're a powerful force right now," said Karen Shelton of the defense. "I'm proud of the whole unit's development and how they're coming together."

Defense has been the foundation of Carolina's program since Shelton became the head coach in 1981. But that's been especially evident over the past 11 seasons. In making 10 final four appearances and claiming two NCAA titles during that stretch, the Tar Heels have finished within the top seven nationally in goals against average nine times.

Shelton saw potential in this year's defense before the season. So she challenged the unit, not only to defend with unity and pride, but to break the school record for goals allowed in a season.

The 1977 team, which conceded nine goals across 18 matches, holds the current record. It's a daunting task to establish a new one. But with a maximum of 15 games left, this year's team is on pace to accomplish that.

"I love the pressure," Ashley Hoffman said. "I think a lot of us thrive under pressure. Of course, we want to break that record. But I haven't thought about that since (Shelton) said it, and I think that's special, too, just being in the moment and focusing on what we have to do."

Anchoring UNC's back line, Hoffman enforces that approach.

Since arriving in Chapel Hill before the 2015 season, Hoffman has started all 85 games Carolina has played. She's the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, a first-team All-America and already the recipient of two ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors this season. And all of that is in addition to her experience on the U.S. National Team.

"She's a world-class player," Shelton said. "I hate she's a senior, but she's making the most of her senior year so far."

Morgan Goetz is, too. She joins Hoffman in bringing veteran leadership to the defense, having started 50 of the Tar Heels' last 51 games. She's always played physically, Hoffman said. But Goetz has also made significant strides since last season, when she earned the team's Marjorie Moses Schwab Unsung Hero Award.

"I think Morgan has improved a lot," Hoffman said. "She's stepping up and intercepting, her outletting skills have gotten tremendously better and she can see up the field better than in previous years."

Aiding the success of UNC's back line has been the development of sophomores Cassie Sumfest and Courtnie Williamson.

Sumfest started all 23 games last season. Williamson played in 21. According to Shelton, both are playing with more confidence this season, with Sumfest having started all nine games and Williamson coming off the bench.

"Courtnie specifically has grown so much this season compared to last season," Hoffman said. "She has confidence out there, and she's aggressive. Cassie is super solid. She rarely makes a mistake, and she can get up the field very quickly.

"So they each have different strengths, and I think as an entire unit, it works for us together."

At times, such as the first 25 minutes of last Friday's 2-0 win at then-No. 4 Duke, Carolina's defense has been so stifling that goalkeeper Amanda Hendry has gone extended periods of time without facing a shot. But she's excelled when tested.

After starting all 23 games as a redshirt freshman last season, Hendry leads the country in goals against average (.42) and save percentage (85.7). She made a season-high five saves in the victory over the Blue Devils. Four of those came in a span of less than two minutes.

"She smothered some opportunities," Shelton said. "I'll credit Jackie Briggs, our goalie coach – I think our goalkeepers are more aggressive to the ball. For Amanda to have the confidence to come out and smother those balls is a direct result of Jackie's coaching."

Practices have presented the defense some of its stiffest challenges, as the Tar Heels' offense ranks fifth nationally in goals scored (4.00) and points (11.56).

Both units, junior forward Catherine Hayden said, benefit from facing each other.

"It's so nice to play against them," said Hayden, who is tied for the team lead with seven goals. "Our offense is helped by them being so good, and the defense is helped by us kind of pounding them. We just have a lot of confidence in them."

And it keeps growing, even though the defense isn't concentrating on its record-setting pace.

"We're just going to practice the same way," Hendry said. "We're not going to think any better of ourselves just because we happen to play well in one game. We have to keep coming out and keep playing our hardest and just keep doing what we're doing."