Four Tar Heels Earn ACC FH Honors

Four Tar Heels have earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors, celebrating outstanding play so far in the 2023 season. Sophomores Ryleigh Heck and Sietske Brüning were named to the All-ACC first team, and junior Kelly Smith and freshman Charly Bruder were named to the second team.

Bruder was honored as ACC Freshman of the Year, marking the second year in a row and the 10^th time in program history that a Tar Heel has claimed that award.

"These four work so hard, they have great attitudes and they're completely bought in to being the best version of themselves as players and as teammates for the people around them," UNC coach Erin Matson said. "They also understand, as do we all, that this is a team sport and individual recognition owes credit to the team. Any success we have is because of what we've done together."

The Tar Heels (12-3) dive into ACC Tournament play on Wednesday as the top seed in the field. They'll open postseason play in the semifinals, facing the winner of Tuesday's quarterfinals matchup between Syracuse and Virginia

Heck, a forward from Ocean City, N.J., leads the Tar Heels in scoring this season with 24 points and in assists with six. She and Bruder are tied for the goals lead with eight each. A first-team All-ACC pick for the second year in a row, Heck was also named to the preseason All-ACC team.

Brüning, a midfielder from The Hague in the Netherlands, earned second-team honors last season and was a preseason All-ACC pick this year. As a sophomore, she has started every game and has a goal and three assists while making her mark in the midfield by impacting both the offense and defense.

Bruder, a forward from Malvern, Pa., is tied with Heck for the goals lead with eight, including three game-winners. She has played in every game this season, starting five.

Smith, a back from Downingtown, Pa., earned All-ACC recognition for the first time. Part of a Tar Heel defensive unit that has given up just 20 goals in the season's 15 games, she leads the team in defensive saves with three.

2023 All-ACC Field Hockey Team
First Team
Margo Carlin, F, Gr., Boston College
Peyton Hale, B, Sr., Boston College
Piper Hampsch, GK, Sr., Duke
Hannah Miller, F, Gr., Duke
Alaina McVeigh, F, R-Fr., Duke
Mia Duchars, M, Sr., Louisville
Ryleigh Heck, Fr., So., North Carolina
Sietske Brüning, M, So., North Carolina
Charlotte de Vries, M, 5th, Syracuse
Pieke van de Pas, F/M, Gr., Syracuse
Eefke van den Nieuwenhof, B, Sr., Syracuse
Adele Iacobucci, M, Gr., Virginia
Nat Friedman, D, Gr., Wake Forest

Second Team
Kara Heck, F, Sr., Boston College
Caroline Kelly, GK, Gr. Boston College
Kira Curland, M, Jr., Duke
Mary Harkins, B, Gr., Duke
Emilia Kaczmarczyk, M, 5th, Louisville
Julie Kouijzer, B, 5th, Louisville
Charly Bruder, F, Fr., North Carolina
Kelly Smith, B, Jr., North Carolina
Noa Boterman, M, Jr., Virginia
Tyler Kennedy, GK, Jr., Virginia
Daniela Mendez-Trendler, M, So., Virginia
Madison Orsi, B, So., Virginia
Taryn Tkachuk, F, Jr., Virginia
Grace Delmotte, M, Sr., Wake Forest

Co-Offensive Player of the Year – Margo Carlin, F, Gr., Boston College; Alaina McVeigh, F, R-Fr., Duke
Defensive Player of the Year – Eefke van den Nieuwenhof, B, Sr., Syracuse
Goalkeeper of the Year – Piper Hampsch, Sr., Duke
Freshman of the Year – Charly Bruder, F, North Carolina
Coach of the Year – Pam Bustin, Duke

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Charly Bruder

Ryleigh Heck

Kelly Smith

Related Videos