Field Hockey Picks Up 5-0 Win In ACC Tourney First Round

Tuesday, November 5

Winston-Salem, N.C.

10 AM

North Carolina

(16-0)

California

(7-10)

California

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 5, 2024 | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The top-seeded North Carolina field hockey team opened up its run in the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship with a 5-0 victory over the No. 8 seed Cal on Tuesday morning.

The offense for the Tar Heels (16-0) was firing on all cylinders in Kentner Stadium, outshooting the Golden Bears 30 to two on its way to tying the ACC tournament single-game record for assists with six. The 28-shot margin is the largest of the season for UNC.

It's the seventh time Carolina has put up five or more goals in a game and the team's 10^th shutout. Starting goalkeeper Abigail Taylor only had to make one save, but it was a fantastic one as she denied a Cal corner shot with her stick.

The nation's leading goal scorer, Charly Bruder, did what she does best, scoring twice in the first half to put Carolina in firm control of the contest. Now up to 23 goals on the year, she is just two more shy of being in the top-10 for a single-season in program history. Her first of the day gave the Heels their second straight game scoring inside the first minute.

ACC Offensive Player of the Year Ryleigh Heck earned a penalty stroke just before the half that was put away low and left by Sanne Hak. It's the eighth goal of the year for Hak who has now scored in three straight, the longest such streak of her career.

North Carolina controlled the second half in the same manner as the first; getting key contributions off the bench to put the game away. Avery Donahue, fresh off an important goal against Duke over the weekend, pounced on a corner rebound and put in a shot that deflected off a Bear defender into the net.

Redshirt-freshman defender Hope Haynes wrapped up the scoring late in the fourth quarter by rocketing in a penalty corner for her first career goal. Twenty-two different Tar Heels saw action in the contest.

Carolina advances to the semifinals to play the winner of the match between Syracuse and Virginia. The game's first hit will be at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon with coverage on the ACC Network.