Carolina Claims Third ACC Title In A Row, 22nd In Program History

Sunday, November 10

Newton, Mass.

11:00 AM

North Carolina

(19-0, 6-0ACC)

Boston College (ACC Championship)

(13-7, 4-2ACC)

Boston College

North Carolina

Photo by: Mary Schwalm, the ACC

Carolina Claims Third ACC Title In A Row, 22nd In Program History

November 10, 2019 | Field Hockey

Box Score Watch Highlights UNC To Host 1st and 2nd Rounds NCAA Bracket

NEWTON, Mass. – For the third year in a row, the fourth time in five years and the 22^nd time in program history, North Carolina is the Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey champion.

The top-ranked Tar Heels beat second-seeded Boston College 3-1 on its home field at Newton Field Hockey Complex Sunday to claim the crown. Senior forward Marissa Creatore scored two goals in the final and was named the tournament MVP. Senior midfielder Yentl Leemans, sophomore forward Erin Matson and freshman defender Madison Orobono joined her on the All-Tournament Team.

UNC improved to 19-0 with the win, while BC fell to 13-7.

"I'm thrilled for our team," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "An ACC Championship for the University of North Carolina is a meaningful thing. All we try to do is represent to the best of our ability, so to win an ACC Championship – at Boston College, on their home field – is a big deal. Boston College fought hard – they're a very, very worthy opponent and I love that it was tied going into the fourth quarter. There was no quit in them and I think no quit in us. It was nice to have a game like that as we prepare for NCAA postseason."

With the win, UNC earns the ACC automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The tournament bracket will be announced Sunday night at 10 on a live broadcast on NCAA.com.

On Sunday afternoon at BC, a standing-room-only crowd of 1,121 packed the stands and spilled out all around the field. It marked the first time since 2010 that the top two seeds had met in the final, and the Eagles' first-ever appearance in the title game.

Carolina jumped ahead in the first quarter, scored in the 12^th minute of play on its first penalty corner of the game. Matson sent a ball to the right post and Creatore got her stick on it to direct it into the cage for a 1-0 lead that stood through halftime.

In the 42^nd minute, BC scored to tie the game, with Jaime Natale scoring from in front of the cage on a ball from Elizabeth Warner.

The score was tied going into the fourth quarter, but the Tar Heels scored 3:05 in, on another penalty corner. Matson passed the ball behind her back to Leemans, who fired a shot that bounced off the goalkeeper's pads and in.

(Leemans also had the gamewinning goal on a late penalty corner when UNC beat BC 3-2 on Oct. 25 in Chapel Hill in the teams' regular season matchup.)

Creatore added another goal late. After stealing the ball from a BC player just outside the circle, she carried it in from the right side and sent it past Dwyer, into the left side of the cage for a 3-1 lead that would hold up for the final score.

"She's a kid who has worked her tail off and represented our program so well," Shelton said of her MVP. "Her hard work has paid off. What I told the rest of the team is, that doesn't happen by accident. She's put in years of coming early and working on her shot and working on deflections. She's put in the time and you love it when hard work pays off."

Leemans and Matson, both first-team All-America selections in 2018, earned All-Tournament honors for the second year in a row.

"Erin and Yentl are two very special players and I love that they're on our team," Shelton said. "I thought both played their hearts out today. They both draw a lot of attention, which frees up other people. They are absolutely vital to our continued success and I'm proud of them – they earned it today."

Orobono, a true freshman who has started at center back all season, earned the All-Tournament honor for her steady play in her first tournament. "Maddi has continued to grow and she made some real savvy moves back there," Shelton said. "It's not easy to play deep back for us, with our young defense. They're all rookies back there, and she holds down the fort for us."

No. 1 UNC 3, No. 9 Boston College 1
Scoring: UNC – Marissa Creatore (Erin Matson), 11:53; BC – Jaime Natale (Elizabeth Warner), 41:39; UNC – Yentl Leemans (Erin Matson), 48:05; UNC – Creatore, 56:06
Shots: UNC 12 (3/0/4/5), BC 5 (3/1/1/0)
Penalty Corners: UNC 7 (1/1/2/3), BC 5 (2/2/0/1)
Goalkeeper Saves: UNC 2 (Amanda Hendry, 60:00, 1 goal allowed, 2 saves); BC 3 (Sarah Dwyer, 57:36, 3 goals allowed, 3 saves; Team, 2:24)

UNC Starters: Amanda Hendry, Erin Matson, Madison Orobono, Catherine Hayden, Romea Riccardo, Feline Guenther, Yentl Leemans, Eva Smolenaars, Courtnie Williamson, Megan DuVernois, Amanda Hendry, Marissa Creatore

UNC Subs: Hannah Griggs, Karlijn Goes, Abby Pitcairn, Riley Fulmer

2019 ACC Field Hockey All-Tournament Team
Sarah Dwyer, GK, Boston College
Fusine Govaert, M, Boston College
Jaime Natale, F, Boston College
Alli Bitting, M, Louisville
Mercedes Pastor, M, Louisville
Greer Gill, M, Virginia
Makayla Gallen, F, Virginia
Marissa Creatore F, North Carolina
Yentl Leemans, M, North Carolina
Erin Matson, F, North Carolina
Madison Orobono, B North Carolina

Tournament MVP: Marissa Creatore, F, North Carolina

2019 ACC Field Hockey Championship Results:
Thursday, November 7
#5 Louisville d. #4 Syracuse, 1-0
#2 Boston College d. #7 Wake Forest, 2-0
#3 Virginia d. #6 Duke, 2-1
Friday, November 8
#1 North Carolina d. #5 Louisville, 3-1
#2 Boston College d. #3 Virginia, 1-0 (ot)
Sunday, November 10
#1 North Carolina d. #2 Boston College, 3-1