Matson Takes Over ACC Scoring Mark As FH Beats Syracuse 6-1

Friday, October 14

Chapel Hill

3 p.m.

North Carolina

(12-0, 4-0)

Syracuse

(12-3, 2-2)

Syracuse

North Carolina

Senior Erin Matson became the ACC's all-time scoring leader on Friday.

Photo by: Jerome M. Ibrahim

October 14, 2022 | Field Hockey

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Senior Erin Matson became the leading scorer in Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey history Friday as top-ranked North Carolina beat No. 11 Syracuse 6-1 at Karen Shelton Stadium. Tar Heel freshman Ryleigh Heck registered her first career hat trick and added an assist for seven points in the victory.

"We prepared long and hard for Syracuse – they're one of the top teams in the country," UNC coach Shelton said. "We knew they had a lot of weapons, a lot of threats. I thought we pressed really well and I was pleased with the quality of goals that we scored. I thought it was a fantastc team effort– I'm proud of Ryleigh Heck for getting a hat trick and then of course of Erin Matson breaking the ACC all-time scoring record. All in all, a good day – great defense, great attack and able to hold a very talented Syracuse team to a goal."

Friday's action kicked off a three-game homestand for UNC, which returns to the KSS turf next Friday against Virginia. In front of a crowd that included more than 40 former players in town for Alumni Weekend, the Tar Heels (12-0, 4-0 ACC) roared to an early lead, with three goals in the first quarter. Freshman Sietske Brüning scored the gamewinner just 2:47 into the action on a penalty corner, with Ashley Sessa and Romea Riccardo on the assists. Sophomore Kennedy Cliggett made it 2-0 in the 11^th minute, grabbing the ball after a Syracuse save on the initial penalty corner shot and putting it back for the score.

With two seconds to play in the quarter, UNC scored again when Brüning sent a long pass into the circle and Heck deflected it in for a 3-0 lead.

Heck added another in the second quarter, scoring off a pass from Matson that was the senior's 307^th career point and made her the all-time scoring leader in Atlantic Coast Conference history.

🐐 status#GoHeels | @erinmatsonn pic.twitter.com/r4qevdaDWf — UNC Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) October 14, 2022

Less than three minutes into the third quarter, Matson added to her total, this time scoring on a pass from Heck to make it 5-0. Heck scored her third goal in the 52^nd minute on a pass from Ciana Riccardo. Heck became the third Tar Heel to register a hat trick in this season's 12 games, joining Matson and classmate Ashley Sessa.

The Tar Heels missed out on their seventh shutout of the season when Syracuse scored on a penalty corner with 32 seconds to play. Eefke van den Nieuwenhof had the goal, assisted by Charlotte de Vries.

UNC led 20-12 in shots, including a 10-5 gap in the first quarter.

Kylie Walbert and Abigail Taylor split time in goal for the Tar Heels, with Walbert making three saves in the first half and Taylor one in the second.

Matson tied the conference's all-time scoring record in UNC's win at UConn last Sunday, with her 306^th point in her 91^st game as a Tar Heel. That's the exact number of games that the previous record holder, Katie O'Donnell, played during her career at Maryland. After the game, Shelton presented Matson with flowers and her teammates – and the announced crowd of 801 – applauded her and her phenomenal career thus far.

"It was just a really great afternoon and the 6-1 win is the biggest deal of the day," Matson said. "We played together, had a lot of fun, it was just a great afternoon."

Shelton, in her 42^nd season as the Tar Heel coach, praised Matson's intangibles as much as her scoring ability. "She's an exceptional player and an exceptional human being," Shelton said. "Her maturity and poise under pressure, the way she interacts with her teammates – she's demanding and tough, yet part of the group, and she's a fabulous leader. It was really fun to see her get the record and get it in front of the home crowd."

No. 1 North Carolina 6, No. 11 Syracuse 1
Scoring: UNC – Sietske Brüning (Ashley Sessa, Romea Riccardo), 2:47; UNC – Kennedy Cliggett, 10:51; UNC – Ryleigh Heck (Brüning), 14:58; UNC – Heck (Erin Matson), 21:09; UNC – Matson (Heck), 32:49; UNC – Heck (Ciana Riccardo), 51:04; SU – Eefke van den Nieuwenhof (Charlotte de Vries), 59:28
Shots: UNC 20 (10/3/3/4), Syracuse 12 (5/2/0/5)
Penalty corners: UNC 12 (6/0/4/2), Syracuse 5 (2/1/0/2)
Goakeeper saves: UNC 4 (Kylie Walbert, 30:00, 0 goals allowed, 3 saves; Abigail Taylor, 30:00, 1 goal allowed, 1 save); Syracuse 8 (Brooke Borzymwoski, 60:00, 6 goals allowed, 8 saves)
Records: UNC 12-0 (4-0 ACC), Syracuse 12-3 (2-2 ACC)