Tar Heels Spread Out Scoring In 9-0 Win Over Ball State

Sunday, September 30

Chapel Hill

1:00 PM

North Carolina

(11-0)

Ball State

(1-9)

Ball State

North Carolina

Megan Ragusa was one of four UNC keepers to play in Sunday's shutout.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 30, 2018 | Field Hockey

Box Score Watch Highlights Photo Gallery

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Eight different Tar Heels scored and 24 saw game action Sunday afternoon as the top-ranked North Carolina field hockey team beat visiting Ball State 9-0 at Karen Shelton Stadium. The Tar Heels improved to 11-0 with their seventh shutout of the fall and second victory of the weekend, following a 5-1 conference win over No. 11 Syracuse on Saturday.

"I'm very pleased with today's game and the weekend," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "It's good to play games back-to-back, it's a good test for our kids. To get the win yesterday and only give up a goal and then to play today with such a lopsided score is a good testament to the team since we played so many people. We got off to a quick start and then could open up the bench. I was proud of the way we were able to control the tempo."

Junior Catherine Hayden, the only player to score twice against the Cardinals, had the gamewinner just 2:24 into the action. Senior Eva van't Hoog's shot was saved by Ball State keeper Grace Chavez, but Hayden grabbed the ball right in front of the cage and put it back for a 1-0 lead. It was the first of seven goals UNC would score before halftime.

Junior Megan DuVernois had the next one. She got a steal near midfield and carried the ball into the circle from the right side of the field then shot into the left side of the cage for a 2-0 lead in the sixth minute of play.

In the eighth minute, junior Yentl Leemans had her shot blocked by a BSU defender but freshman Erin Matson grabbed the loose ball to score from close range.

On a penalty corner in the 13^th minute, Leemans took the shot and Hayden deflected the ball past the keeper for her second goal of the day and a 4-0 lead.

In the 14th minute, sophomore Eva Smolenaars sent a long pass into the circle and junior Marissa Creatore tipped it past Chavez's outstretched foot for the Tar Heels' fifth goal of the day.

In the 29th minute, sophomore Courtnie Williamson drove into the circle along the left baseline. When Chavez came out to challenge her, Williamson tipped the ball to her right to freshman Riley Fulmer, who put it in for her first career goal and a 6-0 lead.

On a penalty corner with no time remaining in the first half, senior Malin Evert's shot went off a defender toward junior Ali Rushton, who shot it off the bounce and into the left side of the cage. Rushton's goal was the first of her Carolina career and sent UNC into the locker room with a 7-0 lead.

In the second half, junior Leila Evans scored in the 39^th minute to make it 8-0. Chavez saved her first shot but Evans followed the rebound and shot again from the right side of the cage for her second goal of the fall.

The final goal came in the 45^th minute when Chavez came out to defend Bryn Boylan on the right baseline and the sophomore chipped a shot over her that bounced into the cage. It was the second goal of Boylan's career, following her first on Saturday.

In an extreme example of the depth the Tar Heels have this season, Shelton played four goalkeepers in the game for the first time in program history. Amanda Hendry started and yielded to Alex Halpin after the first 20 minutes. Halpin played 30 minutes then senior Mary Kathryn Harrah took over. She spent 14:30 in the cage, her first action of the season, before redshirt freshman Megan Ragusa played the final 4:50, making her first collegiate appearance.

Shelton was pleased to see her team continue to play at a high level even as the starters spent the bulk of the second half on the bench. "We're practicing good habits, winning habits – move the ball, get your eyes up so you can pre-scan before you get it and know what your next pass is going to be, movement off the ball, good habits on defense … all those things matter and it doesn't matter who you play, you've got to do those things," Shelton said. "Today was a day to demonstrate that not only our starters have good habits but the entire team."

Next up for the Tar Heels is another home game, the fourth in a row. UNC hosts Wake Forest on Saturday at 1 for an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.

No. 1 UNC 9, Ball State 0
Scoring: UNC – Catherine Hayden, 2:24; UNC – Megan DuVernois, 5:46; UNC – Erin Matson, 7:17; UNC – Hayden (Yentl Leemans), 12:59; UNC – Marissa Creatore (Eva Smolenaars), 13:27; UNC – Riley Fulmer (Courtnie Williamson), 28:38; UNC – Ali Rushton, 35:00; UNC – Leila Evans, 38:08; UNC – Bryn Boylan, 44:14
Shots: UNC 29 (22/7), BSU 2 (0/2)
Penalty corners: UNC 4 (4/0), BSU 1 (0/1)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 0 (Amanda Hendry, 20:16, 0 saves, 0 goals allowed; Alex Halpin, 30:24, 0 saves, 0 goals allowed; Mary Kathryn Harrah, 14:30, 0 saves, 0 goals allowed; Megan Ragusa, 4:50, 0 saves, 0 goals allowed); BSU 9 (Grace Chavez, 70:00, 9 saves, 9 goals allowed)
Defensive saves: BSU 2 (Hillary Scott, Audrey Tabor)
Records: UNC 11-0, BSU 1-9

UNC starters: Amanda Hendry, Erin Matson, Catherine Hayden, Ashley Hoffman, Malin Evert, Morgan Goetz, Yentl Leemans, Eva van't Hoog, Courtnie Williamson, Megan DuVernois, Marissa Creatore
UNC substitutes: Meredith Sholder, Hannah Griggs, Julia Herrington, Leila Evans, Bryn Boylan, Abby Pitcairn, Ali Rushton, Eva Smolenaars, Riley Fulmer, Ellen Payne, Alex Halpin, Mary Kathryn Harrah, Megan Ragusa