A hat trick in your first game back from injury? That will make anyone take notice. The Atlantic Coast Conference was no exception Tuesday, as it gave UNC field hockey’s Erin Matson its Offensive Player of the Week honor for the fourth time this season.

Matson’s hat trick against Virginia included the game-winning goal in sudden-death overtime. Her three goals accounted for all of Carolina’s offense in a 3-2 victory.

Matson had missed the team’s previous three games due to an injury. Her performance against the Cavaliers was her second straight game with a hat trick, and gave her 103 goals in her career, an ACC all-time record. Her three goals against Virginia gave her 21 on the season, which leads all players in the conference. Matson also tops the conference in assists (8) and points (50).

The UNC field hockey team finished the season ranked No. 10 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, and are the No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament. They will open conference tournament action on Thursday night in Syracuse, N.Y., when they take on Wake Forest, who are ranked No. 21 in the national poll and are the ACC’s No. 6 seed. The Tar Heels beat the Demon Deacons 1-0 in Winston-Salem earlier this season.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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