Field Hockey Picks Up First Win, 4-1 at Princeton

Friday, September 3

Princeton, N.J.

2:30 PM

North Carolina

(1-2)

Princeton

(0-1)

North Carolina

Princeton

Freshman Kennedy Cliggett (36) scored her first career goal, which proved to be the gamewinner, on Friday.

Photo by: Greg Carrocio/Princeton

September 3, 2021 | Field Hockey

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – The UNC field hockey team got goals from four different players in four different quarters Friday en route to its first win of the season, 4-1 at No. 13 Princeton. The Tar Heels improved to 1-2 overall while the host Tigers fell to 0-1 in their first action since meeting UNC in the 2019 NCAA Championship game.

Coming off back-to-back losses for the first time since the 2013 season, the Tar Heels got on the board first with a goal from sophomore Katie Dixon. Just over four minutes into the match at Bedford Field, Dixon chased down a loose ball at mid-circle and backhanded it past Princeton keeper Robyn Thompson for a 1-0 lead.

Princeton tied the score in the 24^th minute on a goal by Grace Shulze. After Carolina's Abigail Taylor saved a Tiger shot, Shulze put back the rebound to make it 1-1.

The Tar Heels answered just over a minute later. Freshman Jasmina Smolenaars got a takeaway on the right side of the field and sent the ball to senior Erin Matson, who directed it through traffic into the circle to freshman Kennedy Cliggett. With a defender on her and the keeper closing in, Cliggett sent a reverse shot into the top of the cage to make it 2-1 and put Carolina ahead for good.

The Tar Heels continue to increase their lead after halftime. In the 42nd minute of play, they finally drew their first penalty corner of the game. Matson's initial shot was saved and the ball eventually rolled toward senior Eva Smolenaars at the far post. She kept it from going out of bounds, spun and then deposited the ball into the cage. After a lengthy review, the goal stood and Carolina led 3-1.

In the fourth quarter UNC added one more, with Matson assisting on a goal by senior Hannah Griggs, who is now tied for the team lead with two goals on the season. (Eva Smolenaars also has two, and Cliggett, Dixon and Matson have one each.)

While the win was UNC's first of the season, after losses to Michigan and Iowa in Iowa City last weekend, it marked the third game in a row the Tar Heels have led their opponent in shots, with a four-shot advantage each time. Friday, the tally was 16-12 Tar Heels, with the Tigers leading 5-3 in penalty corners. (It marked the first time this season an opponent has out-cornered UNC.)

Taylor finished with seven saves, a high in her three-game career. The Princeton goalkeeper, Thompson, also had seven Friday in her Princeton debut.

UNC got defensive save from senior Cassie Sumfest.

The Tar Heels return to action on Sunday in the same place but with a new opponent: in the continuation of the ACC/Ivy Conference Crossover, Carolina will face Penn at 11 a.m. Like Friday's, that game will air live on ESPN+. In Friday's first ACC-Ivy game, Louisville beat the Quakers 3-1.

UNC 4, Princeton 1
Scoring: UNC – Katie Dixon, 4:12; Princeton – Grace Schulze, 23:20; UNC – Kennedy Cliggett (Erin Matson), 24:42; UNC – Eva Smolenaars (Cassie Sumfest), 41:51; UNC – Hannah Griggs (Matson), 51:40
Shots: UNC 16 (3/4/3/6), Princeton 12 (5/2/3/2)
Penalty corners: UNC 3 (0/0/1/2), Princeton 5 (3/0/2/0)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 7 (Abigail Taylor, 60:00, 7 saves, 1 goal allowed), PU 7 (Robyn Thompson, 60:00, 7 saves, 4 goals allowed)
Defensive saves: UNC 1 (Cassie Sumfest)
Records: UNC 1-2, Princeton 0-1