Tar Heels Drop Season Opener, 3-2 To Michigan

Friday, August 27

Iowa City, Iowa

2 PM (ET)

North Carolina

(0-1)

Michigan

(1-0)

North Carolina

Michigan

Senior Hannah Griggs scored a goal in UNC's season opener on Friday. (Photo: Iowa Athletics)

August 27, 2021 | Field Hockey

Box Score

IOWA CITY, Iowa – In a 1-vs-2 matchup to open the season, the top-ranked North Carolina field hockey team scored two fourth-quarter goals but fell 3-2 to No. 2 Michigan on Friday afternoon at the University of Iowa's Grant Field. The UNC-Michigan game, a rematch of the 2020 NCAA Championship game won by Carolina last May, was the opener of the 2021 Big Ten/ACC Challenge, which also includes a Friday game between No. 3 Iowa and No. 11 Wake Forest.

The teams switch opponents for Sunday, with UNC (0-1) taking on the host Hawkeyes at noon ET.

After trailing 2-0 heading into the fourth quarter, the Tar Heels scored 39 seconds into the period. Senior Meredith Sholder passed to senior Eva Smolenaars, just inside the arc. Smolenaars settled the ball and sent a rocket inside the far post to make it 2-1 Wolverines.

After Michigan was whistled for a green card to go a player down, UNC pulled goalkeeper Abigail Taylor in favor of an additional field player. Michigan took advantage and scored into the empty cage to again go up by two with just over 10 minutes to play.

On a penalty corner with just under five minutes to play, senior Cassie Sumfest's initial shot was blocked but Hannah Griggs, also a senior, got her stick on the ball and touched it past the UM keeper to make the score 3-2. The Tar Heels got off three shots down the stretch but weren't able to tie the game up.

Check out today's 2⃣ goals⤵️ Back at it Sunday at noon ET vs. Iowa 🏑 🔗 https://t.co/e27MZ657Y7#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/LZv6rZEuec — UNC Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) August 27, 2021

After trailing 5-1 in shots at halftime, UNC outshot the Wolverines 10-2 in the second half to lead 11-7 on the day. Carolina didn't have a corner in the first half, but finished with a 4-1 advantage.

Taylor, a true freshman, started in goal for the Tar Heels and made one save. She was one of five freshmen to see their first action for UNC along with Kennedy Cliggett, Lisa Slinkert, Jasmina Smolenaars and Kelly Smith. Sophomore Alli Meehan, a transfer from Northeastern, also played for the first time in Carolina blue, starting at forward.

After ending last season with back-to-back games against Michigan and Iowa, UNC is starting this year the same way. UNC and Iowa last met in the NCAA semifinals in Chapel Hill last May, with Carolina winning 3-0 to set up the championship showdown with the Wolverines.

No. 2 Michigan 3, No. 1 North Carolina 2
Scoring: UM – Alana Richardson, 13:59; UM – Tina D'Anjolell, 24:15; UNC – Eva Smolenaars (Meredith Sholder), 45:39; UM – Sarah Pyrtek, 49:36; UNC – Hannah Griggs, 55:05
Shots: UNC 11 (0/1/3/7); UM 7 (3/2/0/2)
Penalty corners: UNC 4 (0/0/3/1), UM 1 (0/1/0/0)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 1 (Abigail Taylor, 48:10, 2 goals allowed, 1 save; Team, 11:50, 1 goal allowed, 0 saves); UM 1 (Anna Spieker, 60:00, 2 goals allowed, 1 save)
Records: UM 1-0, UNC 0-1