Carolina Prepped For Another Final Four Run

Friday, November 21

Durham, N.C.

2:30 PM

North Carolina

Northwestern

Photo by: NATE SKVORETZ

November 20, 2025 | Field Hockey

Game Notes

By: William Soulé

DURHAM, N.C. - A familiar foe awaits Carolina field hockey in the final four of the 2025 NCAA Championship, as the Heels prepare to take on Northwestern in the national semifinal on Friday afternoon at Duke's Jack Katz Stadium in Durham. Since 2007, UNC has reached this round every season except for two.

It will be the fourth time in the last five years these two programs will face off in the NCAA tournament. UNC is 2-1 with two wins in a row in the previous three showdowns. This weekend will be the eighth playing of the championship round in the Tar Heel state and third time in the vaunted Research Triangle. It is Durham's first chance hosting. UNC is 11-1 in championship round games played in their home state, claiming five of their national titles in those seasons.

SCHEDULE
vs. #2 Northwestern | Friday, Nov. 21, 2:30 PM ET
Durham, N.C. | Jack Katz Stadium
Watch: ESPNU (Suzanne Bush, Leah Secondo)

NUMBERS TO KNOW
.99 - Carolina's 0.99 goals against average is the second best in the NCAA tournament so far, behind only eliminated UConn.
1 - UNC was named the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for the fourth year in a row and seventh time in the last eight years.
10 - The Heels have 10 wins over top-15 opponents this year, the most in the country.
29 - It is the 29th final four berth for North Carolina, the most by any team in the sport's history.
42 - 2025 represents The Heel's 42nd trip to the NCAA tournament, also an NCAA record.

SCOUTING REPORT
FHockey Heels vs. the Wildcats
➤ Sunday's game will be the 13th all-time meeting between the two programs.
➤ It has almost felt inevitable that these two programs will face off on this stage ever year in recent memory. Surprisingly, their all-time postseason is just that, recent. The 2021 matchup was the first time they played in the NCAA tournament. Carolina now holds a 2-1 record in postseason play thanks to victories in the two most recent showdowns.
➤ Last time they met: Both of the last two games were in the championship game and both delievered the dramatics. In 2023, Erin Matson's first year at the helm for the Heels with the game played at Karen Shelton Stadium, penalty shootouts were required to decide the national champion. True freshman Charly Bruder scored UNC's lone regulation goal before Ryleigh Heck stepped up and made the winning shootout goal to seal title No. 11.
➤ The 2022 final was won 2-1 by a Matson goal less than one minute after Northwestern had tied up and less than two minutes before the final whistle blew and gave UNC it's 10th natty and fifth undefeated season.

AUGUST. SEPTEMBER. OCTOBER. CAROLINA.
➤ We have officially entered the field hockey postseason. The whole of November has historically been dominated by the North Carolina Tar Heels.
➤ The stretch run annually kicks off with their complete control of the ACC. The Tar Heels have now won 28 ACC Championships, more than all of the other programs combined.
➤ No current member has more than four titles (Wake Forest). Former ACC constituent Maryland won 10.
➤ The next step along the journey is the NCAA tournament, a place the Heels have long known success. Carolina has won 11 national championships, more than any other program in the sport's history.
➤ Recent history has also been almost all Carolina. The team has claimed five of the last seven titles.
➤ UNC holds an 85-30 all-time record in the tourney.
➤ Carolina has earned the No. 1 seed for the 13th time since seeding began in 1997. They have won eight of their national championships with that seeding and own a 41-5 record.
➤ The Heels' coach Erin Matson is obviously no stranger to this tournament, winning four times as a player before claiming another in her first year coaching.

DRAMA AGAINST THE DEVILS AGAIN
➤ The Tar Heels took down their cross-town rivals Duke for the third time overall and second time in overtime this season on Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 win in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
➤ UNC dominated the ball in the contest, outshooting the Blue Devils 24-7 with 12 more corners.
➤ Kara Heck made the first breakthrough, deflecting in a shot from Charly Bruder for her seventh of the year.
➤ Duke tied the game in the third and it would stay tied through regulation. Quickly into the overtime, Ryleigh Heck earned a penalty corner where she would combined with fellow captain Sietske Brüning to find a wide open Sanne Hak at the back post for the winner.