Carolina Wraps Up Road Swing With Third Shutout Of The Year

Saturday, September 8

Louisville, Ky.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

(6-0)

California

(2-2)

North Carolina

CAL

Amanda Hendry (above) and Alex Halpin combined for UNC's third shutout in the past four games.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 8, 2018 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With goals from five different players and another shutout effort on defense, the second-ranked UNC field hockey team earned a 6-0 win over California Saturday afternoon in a neutral-site game played at the University of Louisville's Trager Stadium. Carolina improved to 6-0 with the victory, while Cal fell to 2-2 heading into a Sunday matchup with the host Cardinals.

After back-to-back games in Louisville and four in a row on the road, the Tar Heels head for home looking forward to their next three games and six of the next seven in Chapel Hill. The outlier in that stretch is just down the road in Durham, against Duke on Sept. 21.

UNC's next game is Tuesday at 6 p.m., when Appalachian State visits Carolina Field Hockey Stadium. The Tar Heels host Virginia on Friday and James Madison on Sunday.

"I'm pleased to get a second win after a quick turnaround on a back-to-back weekend," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "Today's game was good in spots, but we still have a lot of work to do. We're looking forward to getting back home for a while."

After beating Louisville 3-1 on Friday evening to open Atlantic Coast Conference play, the Tar Heels had a little over 18 hours until it was time to play again. They got rolling quickly, scoring the gamewinner just four minutes into the action. The goal was by Catherine Hayden, who sent a reverse-stick shot into the top of the cage. UNC added another 10 minutes later, with junior Marissa Creatore tipping in Ashley Hoffman's ball on a penalty corner, one of three the Tar Heels took in the first half.

Hayden scored again just under three minutes before halftime, deflecting in a ball senior Eva van't Hoog fired from the top of the circle. It made for Hayden's second multi-goal outing of the season and she now has six goals this fall, all in the past three games.

After halftime, the Tar Heels added three more. Hoffman scored on a penalty corner in the 47^th minute, assisted by van't Hoog and freshman Abby Pitcairn, who registered the first point of her Carolina career.

UNC scored on another corner in the 53^rd minute, when freshman Erin Matson redirected a shot from Hoffman.

The final goal was also a penalty corner, in the 67^th minute. Junior Leila Evans had the goal, her first of the season and second of her career. Pitcairn had the push-out for her second assist of the day, and hjunior Ali Rushton had the stick stop for the first assist of her career.

A total of 23 Tar Heels played, with eight registering either a goal or an assist. Sophomore Amanda Hendry and junior Alex Halpin split the game in goal, with each playing a half in the shutout, UNC's third of the season.

"It's always nice to get a shutout on the road, so I'm pleased with how we finished the game," Shelton said. "I thought we played very well at times. It was fun to get a chance to play all of our student-athletes. Leila Evans had a beautiful goal to end the game, and that was something everyone felt good about."

Another thing to feel good about: Corner production. The Tar Heels drew nine on the day and scored on four of them.

No. 2 UNC 6, California 0
Scoring: UNC – Catherine Hayden, 4:02; UNC – Marissa Creatore (Ashley Hoffman), 14:09; UNC – Hayden (Eva van't Hoog), 32:18; UNC – Hoffman (Abby Pitcairn, van't Hoog), 46:48; UNC – Erin Matson (Hoffman), 52:09; UNC – Leila Evans (Pitcairn, Ali Rushton), 66:39
Shots: UNC 27 (15/12), Cal 8 (2/6)
Penalty Corners: UNC 9 (3/6), Cal 6 (1/5)
Goalkeeper Saves: UNC 3 (Amanda Hendry, 35:00, 0 goals allowed, 0 saves; Alex Halpin, 35:00, 0 goals allowed, 3 saves); Cal – 12 (Natalie Dalton, 49:23, 4 goals allowed, 11 saves; Danielle Mentink, 20:37, 2 goals allowed, 1 save)
Records: UNC 6-0, Cal 2-2

UNC Starters: Amanda Hendry, Erin Matson, Catherine Hayden, Ashley Hoffman, Feline Guenther, Malin Evert, Morgan Goetz, Yentl Leemans, Eva van't Hoog, Marissa Creatore
UNC Substitutes: Meredith Sholder, Hannah Griggs, Julia Herrington, Leila Evans, Bryn Boylan, Abby Pitcairn, Ali Rushton, Eva Smolenaars, Courtnie Williamson, Megan DuVernois, Ellen Payne, Alex Halpin