Carolina Picks Up Second Win Over Virginia, 2-1

Monday, October 12

Chapel Hill

Noon

North Carolina

(4-1 (2-1ACC))

Virginia

(3-3 (2-1ACC))

Virginia

North Carolina

Senior Eva Smolenaars scored UNC's first goal of the game on Monday against Virginia.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

October 12, 2020 | Field Hockey

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By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Monday's field hockey game between UNC and Virginia was unique for a host of reasons – playing on a weekday at noon, against the same opponent as a day earlier, and outside of Atlantic Coast Conference competition – but the end result was not, as the Tar Heels beat the Cavaliers 2-1 to win at Karen Shelton Stadium the second day in a row.

Carolina, which won Sunday's matchup 5-1, got goals from senior Eva Smolenaars and junior Meredith Shoulder as it improved to 4-1 overall. Virginia fell to 3-3.

"We credit to Virginia for making some really good adjustments from yesterday and making it tough on us today," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "It was a good, hard-fought game. I thought we left some chances out there, but their goalkeeper also did an outstanding job – we put shots on target and she stopped them. I thought once we got the lead for good we handled it well down the stretch – that was important for our group. We faced some things we haven't seen yet this year, so that was really valuable. Overall I'm delighted with the win."

UNC got on the board early, less than four minutes into the game. On the run, Smolenaars gathered a pass from junior Erin Matson at the top of the circle. As she carried it into the arc, Virginia keeper Lauren Hausheer came out to try to play the ball, but Smolenaars got by her and carried the ball to the right side of the circle. With the keeper out of the cage, Smolenaars sent a shot in, past a Cavalier defender, to put Carolina up 1-0.

The Tar Heels outshot Virginia 10-1 before halftime – 7-0 in the second quarter – but the score still stood at 1-0 through the break and through most of the third quarter. With two minutes to play in the third period, UVa freshman Anneloes Knol got her team on the board when she sent a hard shot from the top of the circle past UNC goalkeeper Amanda Hendry to tie the score.

The teams were even heading into the fourth quarter, but UNC changed that 1:41 in. From the left side of the field, Smolenaars sent a ball into the circle to Matson. She gathered the ball and sent a cross to the front of the cage, where Sholder was waiting to deflect it behind Hausheer and in for what would prove to be the gamewinner. "That goal was outstanding," Shelton said. "We manufactured it, had a sustained attack, Meredith Sholder was down in the right position and Erin Matson gave her the beautiful assist. That was bigtime."

UNC finished with 15 shots to Virginia's four and six penalty corners to the Cavaliers' three. Hausheer made seven saves for UVa. Hendry had one for UNC.

Following this rare Monday game, UNC has a quick turnaround before facing Syracuse Friday evening for an ACC home game. Game time at Shelton Stadium is 6 p.m. and the action will air on the ACC Network.

UNC 2, Virginia 1
Scoring: UNC – Eva Smolenaars, 3:52; UVa – Anneloes Knol, 43:00; UNC – Meredith Sholder (Erin Matson), 51:41
Shots: UNC 15 (3/7/2/3), UVa 4 (1/0/1/2)
Penalty Corners: UNC 6 (1/4/1/0), UVa 3 (2/0/0/1)
Goalkeeper Saves: UNC 1 (Amanda Hendry, 60:00, 1 save, 1 goal allowed); UVa 7 (Lauren Hausheer, 56:54, 7 saves, 2 goals allowed; Team, 3:06, 0 saves, 0 goals allowed)
Records: UNC 4-1 (2-1 ACC); UVA 3-3 (2-1)