Carolina Earns Shutout In ACC FH Opener

Friday, September 15

Chapel Hill

3 PM

North Carolina

(5-1 (1-0ACC))

Louisville

(6-1 (0-1ACC))

Louisville

North Carolina

Pleun Lammers (30) and the Tar Heels celebrated a 2-0 win over Louisville.

Photo by: Grant Halverson

September 15, 2023 | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina scored early and late and defended all afternoon to earn a 2-0 win over No. 4 Louisville Friday in the Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey opener for both teams. With more than 100 program alums in the Karen Shelton Stadium stands as the Tar Heels celebrated Alumni Day, UNC got goals from senior Kiersten Thomassey and freshman Charly Bruder to notch the victory.

The second-ranked Tar Heels picked up their second top-five win of the season and improved to 5-1 overall, 1-0 in ACC play.

"This was absolutely huge for us," UNC coach Erin Matson said. "Big-time matchup, high-pressure situation, Alumni Weekend ... we wanted to show up, the girls wanted to show up."

And they did, taking the lead for good with a goal in the eighth minute of play. Ryleigh Heck carried the ball into the circle and sent it to the front of the cage. Paityn Wirth got a stick on it in traffic to send it toward Thomassey, who punched it in for her second goal of the season. With a total of five points through six games this year, the senior already has scored more than in any previous season of her UNC career.

Carolina continued to keep Louisville off the board in what remained a tight game. In the 52^ndminute the Tar Heels earned a little bit of breathing room with a penalty corner goal to make it 2-0. Graduate student Pleun Lammers had the insert and senior Romea Riccardo the stickstop to set up Bruder's shot. The freshman now has a team-high four goals on the season.

Graduate student Maddie Kahn played all 60 minutes in goal as UNC picked up its second shutout of the season and first at home since a 6-0 win over Saint Joseph's on Oct. 23, 2022, in last year's Senior Day.

Although they'll get back to work with plenty to improve upon, the Tar Heels wrapped up the afternoon with lots to be pleased about: a win over a previously-undefeated ACC rival under Carolina-blue skies with alums representing all 10 of UNC's NCAA titles there to root them on.

"This is why we're here," Matson said, gesturing to the crowd of former players celebrating and socializing on the turf nearby. "We're proud that it was a game like this, on a day like this, for them."

Next up for the Tar Heels is an ACC road game at Wake Forest on Sept. 22. The next home game is on Sept. 24 at noon against Appalachian State. That day has been designated as Fhockey Fest and fans can expect tailgate games, pumpkin painting, t-shirts giveaways and postgame autographs.

No. 2 UNC 2, No. 4 Louisville 0
Scoring: UNC – Kiersten Thomassey (Paityn Wirth), 7:46; UNC – Charly Bruder (Pleun Lammers, Romea Riccardo), 51:16
Shots: UNC 9 (2/2/3/2), Louisville 6 (0/1/3/2)
Penalty corners: UNC 3 (0/0/2/1), Louisville 5 (0/1/2/2)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 1 (Maddie Kahn, 60:00, 1 save, 0 goals allowed), Louisville 3 (Merlijn van der Vegt, 58:50, 3 saves, 2 goals allowed; Team, 1:10)
Records: UNC 5-1 (1-0 ACC), Louisville 6-1 (0-1 ACC)