FH Opens League Play With Shutout Win, 5-0 Over Syracuse

Friday, September 20

Chapel Hill

5 PM

North Carolina

(5-0 (1-0ACC))

Syracuse

(4-2 (0-1ACC))

Syracuse

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 20, 2024 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Dana Gelin

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina field hockey team waited almost a month into the season for its first home game, but when the opportunity finally came the Tar Heels made it count. In both its home opener and Atlantic Coast Conference opener Friday afternoon, UNC beat Syracuse 5-0 before a capacity crowd at Karen Shelton Stadium.

No. 2 UNC improved to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the league. The No. 15 Orange fell to 4-2 (0-1).

The Tar Heels got goals from five different players in their third shutout win in a row. In the eighth minute, graduate transfer Avery Donahue scored her first goal as a Tar Heel, sending in a ball from Ryleigh Heck at the front of the cage to make it 1-0.

Less than a minute into the second quarter UNC struck again with a score from Pleun Lammers off a pass from Sanne Hak.

In the third quarter Jasmina Smolenaars added another, following the initial save on a penalty corner and assisted again by Heck.

Heck scored her own on the next penalty corner, directing in an initial shot by Lisa Slinkert to make it 4-0 in the 43^rd minute.

The final goal came from Molly Catchpole in the 54^th minute. Heck carried it into the circle and sent a ball toward the cage, where Catchpole deflected it in for her first career goal.

A crowd of more than 1,600 overflowed the stands to welcome the Tar Heels home for the first time this season. "The fans were remarkable," UNC coach Erin Matson said. "They totally rose to the occasion, but we didn't expect anything less from Chapel Hill. It's wonderful to be home and in front of them because they just create an amazing environment."

Next up Carolina hits the road again to take on Liberty in Lynchburg, Va., noon on Sunday.

No. 2 UNC 5, No. 15 Syracuse 0
Scoring: UNC – Avery Donahue (Ryleigh Heck), 7:15; UNC – Pleun Lammers (Sanna Hak), 15:53; UNC – Jasmina Smolenaars (Heck), 31:40; UNC – Heck (Lisa Slinkert), 42:53; UNC – Molly Catchpole (Heck), 53:23
Shots: UNC 13 (2/2/5/4), SU 6 (2/0/4/0)
Penalty Corners: UNC 6 (1/0/2/3), SU 3 (1/0/2/0)
Goalkeeper Saves: UNC – 4 (Abigail Taylor, 4 saves, 0 goals allowed); SU 4 (Louise Pert, 4 saves, 5 goals allowed)
Records: UNC 5-0 (1-0 ACC), Syracuse 4-2 (0-1 ACC)