FH Storms Back For Overtime Victory Over Princeton

Sunday, September 3

Philadelphia, Pa.

10:30 AM

North Carolina

(3-1)

Princeton

(0-2)

Princeton

North Carolina

The Tar Heels improved to 3-1 on the season with a neutral-site win over No. 10 Princeton, 2-1 in OT.

Photo by: Trent Weaver

September 3, 2023 | Field Hockey

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – North Carolina trailed for most of Sunday's matchup with Princeton but pulled ahead when it counted to take a 2-1 overtime win in a top-10 field hockey battle. In neutral-site action at Penn's Ellen Vagelos Field, the Tar Heels played from behind for almost 50 minutes before tying the game in the 54^th minute of play then scoring the gamewinner on a penalty stroke in extra time.

The Tar Heels improved to 3-1 with their second win of the weekend, following a 4-0 shutout of host Penn on Friday. Princeton fell to 0-2, including a 2-1 loss to Louisville in the first day of ACC/Ivy League Conference Crossover play.

"It was a great challenge and I think we responded well," UNC coach Erin Matson said. "There was never a second of doubt from anybody. It was just 'OK, we made it a little harder on ourselves, but we're going to do this together,' and it was good to see that fire in their eyes."

Princeton scored four minutes into the game. UNC keeper Maddie Kahn stopped the first Tiger shot of the day, but Bridget Murphy gathered the rebound and put it back for a 1-0 lead.

Despite a significant advantage in opportunities – Carolina had 20 shots in regulation to Princeton's five – the Tar Heels couldn't score until late in regulation. On their fifth penalty corner of the fourth quarter, their ninth of the game, they finally struck. Junior Jasmina Smolenaars took the initial shot and sophomore Ryleigh Heck deflected it in from the right side of the cage to tie the game at 1-1 with 6:26 remaining in regulation.

The score stayed knotted through th rest of the period, and the Tar Heels went into overtime for the second time in this season's four games. They continued to pressure and were eventually awarded a penalty stroke after a shot by Heck was saved illegally. Junior Lisa Slinkert stepped up to take it and sent her shot into the left side of the cage for the Carolina victory.

Nerves of steel 💪 Lisa Slinkert sinks the stroke to give Carolina a 2-1 win over Princeton in OT#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/8AZRNgsHpO — UNC Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) September 3, 2023

UNC finished the day with a season-high 23 shots to five by Princeton. Including Friday's win over the Quakers, the Tar Heels outshot their opponents 37-8 in the two games in Philadelphia.

Kahn played the entire 68:05 in goal for Carolina on Sunday, making two saves. Princeton keeper Robyn Thompson finished with a career-high 10 saves.

"I think one of the bigger takeaways is coming out like we did in the fourth quarter, but in quarter one so that we feel good and have a strong start and sustain that for 60 minutes," Matson said. "It was another good lesson learned, another good battle, and we found a way."

Next up for the Tar Heels is a trip to Old Dominion on Sunday (Sept. 10). Game time in Norfolk is noon.

No. 1 UNC 2, No. 10 Princeton 1, OT
Scoring: Princeton – Bridget Murphy, 4:04; UNC – Ryleigh Heck (Jasmina Smolenaars), 53:34; UNC – Lisa Slinkert (penalty stroke)
Shots: UNC 23 (3/6/3/8/3), Princeton 5 (2/3/0/0/0)
Penalty corners: UNC 10 (1/1/2/5/1), Princeton 1 (0/1/0/0/0)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 2 (Maddie Kahn, 68:05, 1 goal allowed, 2 saves), Princeton 10 (Robyn Thompson, 68:05, 2 goals allowed, 10 saves)