The No. 1 UNC field hockey wrapped up a perfect 15-0 regular season Saturday afternoon in Durham, taking down rival Duke 2-0. The Tar Heels are the only undefeated team in Division 1 field hockey.

A pair of goals from Kennedy Cliggett and Erin Matson in the first half were all the Tar Heels needed in the shutout win. For Matson, playing in her final regular season game with Carolina, the goal was her 21st of the season. It broke Matson away from a three-way tie for first place in the country in goals scored this season. Her goals per game average of 1.4 is also tops in the nation.

The Carolina defense allowed just four shots from the Blue Devils and only one on goal, which was saved by goalie Abigail Taylor. The win is the team’s third shutout in the last five games and eighth overall this season, though the two goals scored are its fewest in a game since late September.

UNC’s undefeated regular season is its third in the last five years and first since 2019. Next up for the team is the ACC Tournament, which begins next week. The Tar Heels won’t have to travel far to participate, as the event will be held on Duke’s campus, in the same stadium in which Saturday’s game was played. Carolina is the No. 1 seed in the tournament and will face the winner of No. 4 seed Boston College and No. 5 seed Syracuse in the semifinals on Wednesday.

 

Featured image via UNC Field Hockey on Twitter


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