The UNC field hockey team kept the good times rolling in its final home game of the year, defeating Saint Joseph’s 5-2 on Sunday to advance to the program’s 26th Final Four, the most all-time in Division 1 field hockey.
UNC held a 3-0 lead at halftime and tacked a goal onto that lead just 21 seconds into the third quarter. Star forward Erin Matson put up her 13th career hat trick in her final home game as a Tar Heel. All three of Matson’s goals came in a span of 3:25 of game time, separated by halftime. Her final goal came on a penalty stroke, and Matson is now 5-for-5 on penalty strokes this season.
Paityn Wirth and Ashley Sessa added Carolina’s other two goals. The Tar Heels outshot the Hawks 19-5 on the day, though goalie Kylie Walbert did have to make three saves, all in the second half. UNC did not give up a single shot in the first half.
The No. 1 overall seed Tar Heels will now travel to Storrs, CT, and the campus of the University of Connecticut for the Final Four. It’s the program’s 13th Final Four appearance in 14 seasons. In the national semifinals, Carolina will face unseeded Penn State, the only unseeded team at the Final Four. It will be the first meeting between the Tar Heels and the Nittany Lions since 2008.
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Well, I don’t like to throw a wrench in the gears, but I have to say, I am terrified. It’s been circulating that the NCAA got a tip to check Sessa’a birth records. I knew this day might come.
It’s true. There’s no evidence she’s human. However, there may still be enough time to forge one really, really good birth certificate to fool the inspectors. As long as they don’t test her DNA, or expose her to kryptonite, she might just sneak through. Wouldn’t you know? We’re in the Final Four again and they drop this bombshell on us now! KEEP YOUR FINGER CROSSED.
GO HEELS! NO ONE CAN STOP YOU! ATTACK. ATTACK. ATTACK.
I think she must do a better job looking like she gets tired. Frankly, if she’s not careful, they are bound to notice that she is never out of breath. She never even looks fatigued, at all, ever. Big no no. She has to blend in better or someone is going to figure out that she is not of this earth. Someone may put Kryptonite in his pocket one day, stand on the sidelines, and as she passes by, well, she will appear fully human.
That kid is everywhere. Her passing is powerful, on target, crisp, decisive and with her speed one second she’s racing back on defense, stealing the ball, spinning like a top and the next second she’s redirecting it to a teammate in some strategic move that boggles the mind. On offense I’ve never seen someone dribble around 4 defenders at once and score with a rocket, like it is mere routine. She always bolts to her teammates and smothers them with hugs when they knock one in. She inserts. She glides backwards like she’s on ice skates. She’s always around the action, driving it, pushing the ball down the field, looking for the open woman, all in the blink of an eye. It is dizzying to watch her. And, I hear she’s goofy and she’s always smiling. What a treat. YOU GO GIRL. YOU GO UNC. YOU ARE THE BEST.
WHAT A TEAM. YOU ALL PLAY POSSESSED. YOU ALL PLAY FOR EACH OTHER. That is why you will end this season as the undisputed, undefeated, the most dominant, and the BEST COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY TEAM OF ALL TIME. Take the ball to them. Do not wait to see what they are doing. You take control from the first second and play like you have never played before.
hide and watch, baby.