Field Hockey Cruises Past App State In Home Opener, 5-0

Friday, September 12

Chapel Hill

6 PM

North Carolina

(5-0, 0-0)

App State

(4-1, 0-0)

Appalachian St.

North Carolina

September 12, 2025 | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: William Soulé

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Ryleigh Heck scored just 40 seconds into the game to set the tone for a commanding 5-0 win for North Carolina field hockey over App State on Friday night in Karen Shelton Stadium.

The Tar Heels (5-0) put on a show for their faithful fans who came out for the team's home opener, getting five goals from four different players. It is the 23^rd year in a row that UNC has won its first home game of the season dating back to 2002.

Heck made it look almost too easy in scoring the opener. Mere seconds into the game, a Sanne Hak past found its way into the middle of the circle where an eager Heck put it away expertly.

From there it was a goal barrage for Carolina. The first quarter finished up with a fourth goal of the season from Charly Bruder with a first career point on the assist from true freshman Sylvie Notine.

The second quarter saw two scores within 30 seconds of each other for the Tar Heels. The first came off the stick of Dani Mendez, who redirected a Reese Anetsberger pass into the back of the net. Mendez, the reigning NFHCA and ACC Offensive Player of the Week, has logged at least a point in every game so far this season.

The next tally came thanks to true freshman back Isabel Boere executing what is quickly becoming her signature move, a long incisive pass from the back line straight to the heart of the circle to a waiting Ryleigh Heck. The senior forward then quickly laid it off to her strike partner Bruder who had an open net to put it away into.

Junior midfielder Sanne Hak assisted on the opener and got a goal of her own in the 35^th minute. Good defense from Molly Catchpole turned the Mountaineers over in the midfield, she found Kara Heck who sent it along to a wide open Hak on the right wing who slammed the ball into the side boards to make it 5-0 Carolina.

It's the second shutout for the Heels in this young season, who did not allow a shot from App State until the second half. True freshman Merritt Skubisz had taken over her shift in goal and made three saves to keep the Mountaineers off the board.

The Tar Heels advance to the next leg of their four-game home-stand on Sunday when they face off with No. 9 Liberty. First hit is scheduled for noon at Karen Shelton Stadium with coverage coming on ACCNX.