Sunday, October 8
Chapel Hill
2 PM
North Carolina
(9-2 (3-0ACC))
1
vs
2
Liberty
(12-1 (4-0Big East))
1
2
3
4
5
6
F
Liberty
0
1
0
0
0
1
2
North Carolina
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Liberty's corner defense was able to keep UNC from scoring on any of its 12 penalty corners.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
FH Falls To No. 10 Liberty In Double OT
October 8, 2023 | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In a top-10 field hockey battle at Karen Shelton Stadium on Sunday, No. 10 Liberty scored in the 73rd minute of play to edge No. 1 North Carolina 2- 1 in double overtime.
UNC falls to 9-2 on the season, with both losses coming at home in overtime. The Flames improved to 12-1 overall with their fourth OT victory of the fall on the unassisted gamewinner from junior Martu Cian.
After two games at home this weekend – Carolina beat Boston College 3-1 on Friday – the Tar Heels play their next three away from Chapel Hill. They travel to New York on Thursday to take on Syracuse Friday and UAlbany next Sunday (Oct. 15).
"We obviously are not happy, but we will continue to grow, continue to set new goals, continue to build and, most importantly, stick together," UNC coach Erin Matson said.
On Sunday, the Tar Heels took the lead just over nine minutes into the game, when midfielder Kiersten Thomassey's shot bounced off a Liberty defender and into the cage. It was the fourth goal of the season for the senior.
Liberty tied the game on a penalty corner 44 seconds before halftime. Jodie Connolly had the score, with assists from Bethany Dykema – who became the program's career assists leader – and Reagan Underwood.
The Flames drew a penalty corner, their only one after halftime, with no time remaining on the third-quarter clock. UNC junior Kelly Smith made a defensive save to keep Pima Iturraspe's shot out of the cage, and the game stayed locked at 1-1. The Flames didn't get off another shot until the gamewinner.
The Tar Heels had five penalty corners in overtime and 12 on the day. They outshot Liberty 17-6, including 8-1 in the second half.
It's the second consecutive win at KSS for Liberty. In 2021, the Flames became the first opponent ever to win on the Tar Heels' current home turf, which opened in 2018, and they're now the only visitor to win at Shelton Stadium twice.
UNC has just one home game remaining in the regular season, on Oct. 27 against Duke.
No. 10 Liberty 2, No. 1 UNC 1, 2OT
Scoring: UNC – Kiersten Thomassey, 9:17; LU – Jodie Conolly (Bethany Dykema, Reagan Underwood), 29:16; LU – Martu Cian, 72:38
Shots: UNC 17 (4/2/3/5/2/1), LU 6 (2/2/1/0/0/1)
Penalty corners: UNC 12 (2/0/2/3/4/1), LU 5 (2/2/1/0/0/0)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 2 (Maddie Kahn, 72:38, 2 saves, 2 goals allowed), Liberty 7 (Azul Iritxity Irigoyen, 72:38, 7 saves, 1 goal allowed)
Defensive saves: UNC 1 (Kelly Smith)
Records: UNC 9-2, Liberty 12-1
UNC falls to 9-2 on the season, with both losses coming at home in overtime. The Flames improved to 12-1 overall with their fourth OT victory of the fall on the unassisted gamewinner from junior Martu Cian.
After two games at home this weekend – Carolina beat Boston College 3-1 on Friday – the Tar Heels play their next three away from Chapel Hill. They travel to New York on Thursday to take on Syracuse Friday and UAlbany next Sunday (Oct. 15).
"We obviously are not happy, but we will continue to grow, continue to set new goals, continue to build and, most importantly, stick together," UNC coach Erin Matson said.
On Sunday, the Tar Heels took the lead just over nine minutes into the game, when midfielder Kiersten Thomassey's shot bounced off a Liberty defender and into the cage. It was the fourth goal of the season for the senior.
Liberty tied the game on a penalty corner 44 seconds before halftime. Jodie Connolly had the score, with assists from Bethany Dykema – who became the program's career assists leader – and Reagan Underwood.
The Flames drew a penalty corner, their only one after halftime, with no time remaining on the third-quarter clock. UNC junior Kelly Smith made a defensive save to keep Pima Iturraspe's shot out of the cage, and the game stayed locked at 1-1. The Flames didn't get off another shot until the gamewinner.
The Tar Heels had five penalty corners in overtime and 12 on the day. They outshot Liberty 17-6, including 8-1 in the second half.
It's the second consecutive win at KSS for Liberty. In 2021, the Flames became the first opponent ever to win on the Tar Heels' current home turf, which opened in 2018, and they're now the only visitor to win at Shelton Stadium twice.
UNC has just one home game remaining in the regular season, on Oct. 27 against Duke.
No. 10 Liberty 2, No. 1 UNC 1, 2OT
Scoring: UNC – Kiersten Thomassey, 9:17; LU – Jodie Conolly (Bethany Dykema, Reagan Underwood), 29:16; LU – Martu Cian, 72:38
Shots: UNC 17 (4/2/3/5/2/1), LU 6 (2/2/1/0/0/1)
Penalty corners: UNC 12 (2/0/2/3/4/1), LU 5 (2/2/1/0/0/0)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 2 (Maddie Kahn, 72:38, 2 saves, 2 goals allowed), Liberty 7 (Azul Iritxity Irigoyen, 72:38, 7 saves, 1 goal allowed)
Defensive saves: UNC 1 (Kelly Smith)
Records: UNC 9-2, Liberty 12-1
Team Stats
LIBERTY
NC
Goals
2
1
Shots
6
17
Shots on Goal
5
8
Saves
7
3
Corners
5
12
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Kiersten Thomassey (4)
Tip in front of cage
9:17
CONOLLY, Jodie (4)
Assisted By: DYKEMA, Bethany , UNDERWOOD, Reagan
Penalty corner
29:16
CIAN, Martu (6)
GOAL by LIBERTY CIAN, Martu, goal number 6 for season.
72:38
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Field Hockey
Back
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