Field Hockey Closes Homestand With Win Over Huskies

Sunday, September 26

Chapel Hill

1 PM

North Carolina

(6-3)

UConn

(4-6)

UConn

North Carolina

The Tar Heels celebrated Sunday's win over UConn.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 26, 2021 | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina field hockey team wrapped up three-game homestand Sunday afternoon with a come-from-behind win, beating visiting UConn 3-1 at Karen Shelton Stadium. After the 15^th-ranked Huskies took an early lead, UNC senior Erin Matson scored twice and assisted on the third goal as the Tar Heels improved to 6-3 overall.

"I thought this was an important game for us," said UNC coach Karen Shelton, whose team opened conference play on Friday with a 6-1 win over No. 5 Boston College. "This is a final four-type weekend for us, playing two ranked teams with a Friday/Sunday format. We knew it was going to be really tough, and I'm proud of our team. This was a great one to win, having to come from behind and then close it out in the fourth quarter."

UConn (4-6) took an early lead in fifth minute of play, with McKenna Sergi scoring from close range on the Huskies' only first-half shot.

Matson tied it in the 22^nd minute of play, turning defense into offense when she picked off a UConn cross at mid-circle and buried a shot to make it 1-1.

The game remained tied at halftime and through the third quarter. Early in the fourth, the Tar Heels pulled ahead for good. Freshman Jasmina Smolenaars sent a ball into the circle to senior Hannah Griggs. With two defenders on her, Griggs dribbled in then sent the ball toward the cage. The ball took a quick bounce up off a UConn player then Matson grabbed it and swatted a no-look reverse inside the far post to make it 2-1.

"Erin Matson again was spectacular," Shelton said. "When we need her, she finds a way to make things happen. But I'm proud of the entire team – it doesn't just happen with Erin, everybody was a part of it."

In the closing minutes, UConn pulled goalkeeper Cheyenne Sprecher in favor of an additional field player and the Tar Heels took advantage of the empty cage to score one more. Matson sent a ball into the circle from the right side of the field and sophomore Katie Dixon got her stick on it in the air to deflect it in for a 3-1 lead in the 58^th minute of play.

Playing under sunny, Carolina blue skies, the Tar Heels got a lift from the crowd, which included former players back for Alumni Weekend, members of the Carolina Fever student group and the Fockey Band, in addition to lots of families and fans. "The crowd was great for us," Shelton said. "We love playing at home. I really think Carolina Fever and the band gave us a lift, and it was also Alumni Weekend, so all of that gave us a lot of energy."

The Tar Heels, who played six games away from home before enjoying the last three in Chapel Hill, now hit the road again. They play at Syracuse on Friday in the second Atlantic Coast Conference game of the season and then step out of conference again for a game at Albany on Sunday.

Carolina's next home game is Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. against Duke.

No. 7 UNC 3, No. 15 UConn 1
Scoring: UConn – McKenna Sergi, 4:17; UNC – Erin Matson, 21:47; UNC – Matson, 47:16; UNC – Katie Dixon (Matson), 57:29
Shots: UNC 15 (3/5/2/5), UConn 3 (1/0/1/1)
Penalty Corners: UNC 5 (1/1/2/1), UConn 0
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 0 (Abigail Taylor, 60:00, 1 goal allowed, 0 saves), UConn 4 (Cheyenne Sprecher, 59:10, 2 goals allowed, 4 saves; Team, 0:50, 1 goal allowed, 0 saves)
Defensive saves: UNC 1 (Madison Orobono)
Records: UNC 6-3, UConn 4-6