After an unprecedented five-year run of dominance, the UNC field hockey program will look very, very different next season. Not only will star Erin Matson no longer be suiting up for the Tar Heels, but for the first time in the team’s history, Karen Shelton will no longer be the head coach.
Shelton coached 42 years with the Tar Heels, the last five of which saw her dominant collaboration with Matson. With those two teaming up, Carolina won four of the program’s 10 national championships, which is the most in Division 1 field hockey. Matson’s praise of Shelton echoed that of many others in the wake of the head coach’s retirement.
“She is a legend, period,” Matson said. “People talk about that word and ‘GOAT’ getting thrown around a lot here, because Carolina produces insane athletes and humans and coaches and everything. But she really deserves that title.”
Matson has a claim to GOAT status herself. Her list of accomplishments places her in elite company not just in Carolina history, but the history of college sports. Matson is the only athlete ever to win five ACC Player of the Year awards, and was named an All-American in each of her five seasons in Chapel Hill. During her career, the Tar Heels compiled a 99-8 record, with seven of those losses coming in the 2021 season. That was the only year Matson’s team did not win the national championship. It ended with an NCAA Tournament loss to Northwestern, who Carolina came back and beat in the 2022 national championship on a game-winning goal by Matson.
“We stuck together. We played as a team,” Matson said. “I don’t think for a second there was one thought of doubt or anything, especially when [Northwestern] scored. We got in the huddle and everyone was just, ‘This is not happening. We’re fine. Keep playing our game.’ Everyone from the bench to on the field to the stands, and the people watching behind screens, there was a lot of support and belief. So we were able to get it done.”
It was a fairy-tale ending for both Matson and Shelton, each of whom end their Carolina careers as national champions. Matson credited all of her accomplishments to Shelton, and said she looks forward to the evolution of their relationship now that Shelton has stepped away from the bench.
“I would not be here if it wasn’t for her,” said Matson. “I would not be the person or player I am if it was not for her. I know we’re definitely gonna have a different relationship moving forward, because she’s no longer our ‘true coach’ and everything, but she’ll always be our coach. I think it’s exciting to see how our relationship has built over the years, and now this is just another variation of that, that I think we’re both really excited to get into.”
As for Matson herself, she’s now completely out of collegiate eligibility for the Tar Heels. The new Carolina alumna leaves Chapel Hill with a degree from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, but said she still hasn’t quite gotten used to not being a student anymore.
“I’m very excited. It’s going to be different,” Matson said. “I’m not going to lie: it’s weird. I’m sure you can attest to it, too. It’s a weird period of your life. But I’m looking forward to seeing what pans out, where I end up. And I know I’ll enjoy whatever it is.”
Click here to listen to the full conversation between Erin Matson and 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck!
Featured image via Dakota Moyer
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