Erin Matson winning ACC titles is nothing new.

Winning ACC titles as a head coach? Now we’re talking.

Matson’s Tar Heels defeated Duke in Charlottesville on Friday night to clinch the program’s seventh consecutive ACC Tournament championship, and Matson’s first as the program’s head coach. Not bad for a rookie.

The win is Carolina’s second against the Blue Devils in a week, after defeating Duke in the regular-season finale.

After a scoreless first half, All-ACC first team honoree Ryleigh Heck broke the deadlock with her 11th goal of the season 2:11 into the third quarter. Reigning ACC Freshman of the Year Charly Bruder doubled that advantage six minutes later, knocking in an assist from Heck to make it 2-0 Tar Heels. Both Heck and Bruder are tied for the team lead with 11 goals this season.

UNC kept the clean sheet through a fourth-quarter push from the Blue Devils, who forced a pair of saves from Carolina goalie Maddie Kahn. It’s the Lehigh transfer’s first shutout since September.

This marks the second consecutive year the Tar Heels have won both the ACC regular-season and tournament titles. Collectively, Matson has won six consecutive tournament titles with UNC: five as a player and now one as a head coach.

Carolina now has clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The tournament’s 18-team field will be announced on November 5, and UNC’s first game will likely be on November 10 in Chapel Hill. Should the Tar Heels advance to the Final Four, they would be playing at home as well: Karen Shelton Stadium will host both the national semifinals and championship game this season.

 

Featured image via ACC Field Hockey on Twitter

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