Carolina Earns First ACC Win, 3-1 at Louisville

Friday, September 7

Louisville, Ky.

5:00 PM

North Carolina

(5-0, 1-0)

Louisville

(3-2, 0-1)

North Carolina

LOU

Yentl Leemans and the Tar Heels opened ACC play on Friday with a 3-1 win at Louisville.

September 7, 2018 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The second-ranked North Carolina field hockey team trailed early but scored three unanswered goals to earn a 3-1 win at No. 11 Louisville Friday in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.

"Louisville is a good team – they're well-coached and strong," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "And they have one of the top goalkeepers in the world in Ayeisha McFerran. We were able to get three goals against her and that was significant.

The Tar Heels are set to play again in Louisville on Saturday, facing California in a neutral-site game. The matchup has been moved up two hours to 1 p.m. because of stormy weather in the forecast.

Friday at Trager Stadium, the host Cardinals got on the board first, in the 10th minute of play when Katie Schneider tipped in a cross by Madison Walsh.

"We made a mistake and they made us pay," Shelton said. "What I like is we responded well."

Freshman Erin Matson's goal just over nine minutes later tied the game at 1. She took a pass from junior Catherine Hayden and flipped the ball over McFerran and into the top of the cage to tie the score.

"That was a big-time goal," Shelton said. "We had some nice interior passing and Erin roofed it to finish."

Hayden scored the second goal, on a pass from Eva van't Hoog in the 28^th minute. The junior forward corralled the ball and maneuvered around McFerran to shoot into the right corner of the cage.

UNC's third goal came on a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. Senior Ashley Hoffman scored, assisted by Matson and junior Yentl Leemans.

Neither team managed a goal in the second half, when UNC had just four shots and Louisville 1. For the game, the Tar Heels totaled 16 to the Cardinals' five.

"I'm pleased with the win in our first ACC contest," Shelton said. "It's good to have that under our belt. Now we have a quick turnaround before our next game, but I hope we'll handle it and play well against Cal tomorrow."

No. 2 UNC 3, No. 11 Louisville 1
Scoring: UL – Katie Schneider (Madison Walsh), 9:54; UNC – Erin Matson (Catherine Hayden), 19:00; UNC – Hayden, 27:37; UNC – Ashley Hoffman (Matson, Yentl Leemans), 32:09
Shots: UNC 16 (12/4), UL 5 (4/1)
Penalty Corners: UNC 9 (5/4), UL 2 (1/1)
Goalkeeper Saves: UNC 2 (Amanda Hendry, 70:00, 1 goal allowed, 2 saves); UL 6 (Ayeisha McFerran, 70:00, 3 goals allowed, 6 saves)
Defensive Saves: UL 1 (Mercedes Pastor)
Records: UNC 5-0 (1-0 ACC), UL 3-2 (0-1 ACC)

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 substitutes: Meredith Sholder, Hannah Griggs, Abby Pitcairn, Eva Smolenaars, Courtnie Williamson, Megan DuVernois