Late Goal Downs Field Hockey In Top-20 Road Matchup

Friday, September 10

Philadelphia, Pa.

4 PM

North Carolina

(2-3)

Saint Joseph's

(3-2)

North Carolina

Saint Joseph's

Kelly Smith and the Tar Heels return to action on Sunday at Drexel.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 10, 2021 | Field Hockey

Box Score

MERION STATION, Pa. – No. 17 Saint Joseph's scored on a penalty corner with just under four minutes to play Friday afternoon and held on to pull off a home-turf upset, beating No. 4 UNC 3-2 in a matchup of top-20 field hockey teams at Ellen Ryan Field. With the loss, the Tar Heels fall to 2-3 overall heading into Sunday's game at Drexel.

The win is the first for Saint Joseph's (3-2) over Carolina, after UNC had won the previous two meetings, in 2017 and 2019.

"Congratulations to Saint Joseph's," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "This was a fantastic game between two really good teams – both teams fought hard, and we came out on the short end. We knew they were good team and I think we brought out the best in them. I'm disappointed we didn't capitalize our chances but I'm not disappointed with our team – we'll keep improving and there are lots of things we can do better. A game like this makes both teams better."

UNC led early after scoring on its first penalty corner of the day, six minutes into the game. SJU goalkeeper Robin Bleekemolen saved the first Carolina shot, by senior Erin Matson, who kept the rebound in play. After another Tar Heel shot, this one by Cassie Sumfest, was saved, Matson tapped in the rebound to put her team up 1-0.

The Hawks tied the score in the 14^th minute on a goal by Katelyn Cocco.

Early in the second quarter, Matson again gave UNC the lead. She carried the ball into the circle and fired a shot into the cage to make it 2-1 in the 19th minute of play. SJU answered five minutes later on the second of back-to-back penalty cornrers. Freke Van Tilburg had the goal on a direct shot, assisted by Katy Benton and Zoe Wohlleben.

The score remained tied through the third quarter and through most of the fourth. With four minutes remaining in the game, the Hawks drew their only corner of the second half and converted, with Van Tilburg again powering in the goal.

The Tar Heels quickly pulled goalkeeper Abigail Taylor in favor of an extra field player. The effort generated two late penalty corners and another run into the circle with 20 seconds to play, but no game-tying goal.

UNC led 7-3 on shots, but the Hawks managed to score on all three of theirs. The teams were even on penalty corners, drawing four each.

The Tar Heels take on the Dragons Sunday at noon in the sixth of six away games to start the 2021 season. After that, they'll look toward their home opener on Sept. 19 vs. Miami (Ohio). That kicks off a three-game Karen Shelton Stadium homestand, including the Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Sept. 24 against No. 3 Boston College.

No. 17 Saint Joseph's 3, No. 4 North Carolina 2
Scoring: UNC – Erin Matson, 6:05; SJU – Katelyn Cocco, 13:41; UNC – Matson, 18:22; SJU – Freke Van Tilburg (Katy Benton, Zoe Wohlleben), 23:19; SJU – Van Tilberg (Wohlleben, Benton), 56:07
Shots: UNC 7 (4/1/2/0), SJU 3 (1/1/0/1)
Penalty corners: UNC 4 (1/0/0/3), SJU 4 (0/3/0/1)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 0 (Abigail Taylor, 56:07, 3 goals allowed, 0 saves; Team, 3:53, 0 goals allowed, 0 saves); SJU 4 (Robin Bleekemolen, 60:00, 2 goals allowed, 4 saves)
Records: UNC 2-3, SJU 3-2