The UNC field hockey program earned several honors from the ACC after winning the league’s regular-season title for the third consecutive season. Five Tar Heels earned spots on All-ACC teams, Ryleigh Heck was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and Erin Matson was named the ACC Coach of the Year.
Heck was joined on the All-ACC first team by forward Charly Bruder and midfielder Sietske Brüning. Seniors Katie Dixon and Kelly Smith earned spots on the second team.
Heck, a junior from New Jersey, is the reigning Honda Award winner for field hockey and leads the ACC with 15 assists and 12 goals. In her previous two seasons, Heck had combined for just 10 assists. Her win marks the 23rd time a Tar Heel has been named the ACC’s Offensive Player of the Year.
“Ryleigh absolutely deserves this, and we couldn’t be prouder of her,” said Matson. “She knows this award, along with the many others, would not be possible without the hard work of her teammates and they are just as happy for her as we are. She is so dedicated to her craft, and it shows by how much her skill and IQ impact every game.”
Heck is an All-ACC honoree for the third time in her career, while Brüning, Bruder and Smith are each making their second appearances. Bruder, last season’s ACC Freshman of the Year, leads the nation with 21 goals. Brüning has four goals and three assists, and has started all 15 of UNC’s games.
Dixon and Smith have played a combined 169 games during their Carolina careers. Dixon has two goals and six assists this season, while Smith is the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Week.
Matson, a five-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year honoree, is just the second person in the history of the league to win both Offensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. Her win marks the 13th time in program history Carolina will take home Coach of the Year honors.
Matson led Carolina to an undefeated regular season and the ACC regular-season crown, all while the Tar Heels totaled nine ranked wins and a +54 goal differential.
“Receiving this award is another byproduct of hard the team, staff, and I work together to be the best on a daily basis,” Matson said. “I’m so proud of this team and my incredible staff for bringing this recognition home. I’m fortunate to have the support I have at Carolina, and I’m excited about the future of this program.”
The Tar Heels will be back in action to defend their ACC Tournament crown on Tuesday at 10 a.m. when they face Cal in the tournament’s opening round in Winston-Salem.
Featured image via Matt Clements
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