The No. 1 UNC field hockey team defended its ranking on Friday afternoon against No. 11 Boston College, and the Tar Heels stayed unbeaten in ACC play with a 3-1 win.

Carolina controlled most of the possession and outshot the Eagles 16-6, with Boston College not getting a single shot off in the second quarter. That period saw UNC go ahead on Charly Bruder’s first goal of the game, which was scored while the Tar Heels were down a player. Boston College very nearly tied the game early in the third quarter, but a lunging save by UNC back Kelly Smith on an open cage kept the Eagles scoreless. Paityn Wirth then scored later in the quarter to double the Carolina lead.

BC cut the lead back down to a goal less than three minutes into the fourth quarter, but Bruder restored the two-goal lead soon after. The Eagles wouldn’t send another shot Carolina’s way in the final 4:39.

Bruder, a true freshman, leads the team in goals this season with eight in 10 games. Should she end the season on top of the Carolina scoresheet, Bruder would be the first Tar Heel true freshman to lead the team in goals since her head coach, Erin Matson, did so in 2018.

Carolina is now 9-1 on the season and 3-0 in ACC play. UNC will venture back into non-conference play on Sunday when it hosts Liberty in Chapel Hill at 2 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jay Weil

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