In celebration of Women’s History Month, the ACC Network revealed its top female coaches and players of all time on Monday — with current UNC field hockey coach Karen Shelton and star forward Erin Matson each making the list.

Shelton was named the league’s top female head coach of all-time, while Matson — who is still just a junior — was No. 10 among all female athletes the ACC has ever produced.

With 704 career wins, Shelton is the winningest coach in the history of collegiate field hockey. She has led the Tar Heels to eight national championships and 23 ACC titles and has the new on-campus stadium named in her honor.

Matson has led UNC to each of its last two national championships, delivering a pair of undefeated seasons as well. In 2020, she became the first sophomore to win the Mary Garber Award as the ACC’s Female Athlete of the Year.

She already ranks fourth in program history in both goals and assists despite having played the equivalent of just two and a half seasons.

Matson is one of three Tar Heels among the ACC’s top 10 female athletes, joining women’s soccer stars Mia Hamm (No. 1) and Kristine Lilly (No. 7).

Shelton will look to lead Matson and UNC to yet another national title in May, as the 2020 NCAA Tournament was delayed due to the pandemic.

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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