Despite a spirited effort from underdog Saint Joseph’s, UNC escaped with a 2-1 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Karen Shelton Stadium Friday afternoon. The Tar Heels are now through to Sunday’s second round, where they will await the winner of Iowa and Duke.
Ryleigh Heck opened the scoring late in the first half with a highlight reel goal, skating through the Hawk defense and firing in the first goal of the day. It was the 18th goal of the season for the first team All-ACC honoree.
Carolina took its 1-0 lead into halftime, but Saint Joseph’s answered with a goal in the third quarter. The score remained tied at 1-1 as the fourth quarter began, but Charly Bruder produced the game-winning goal less than three minutes in, scoring off a UNC penalty corner.
UNC would then gut out the final few minutes, holding the Hawks to just one shot on goal in their attempted comeback. Isabel Boere blocked that one shot, ensuring the Tar Heels would advance to Sunday. Carolina doubled up Saint Joseph’s on total shots, though the shots on target were much closer: six for the Tar Heels and five for the Hawks. UNC goalies Merritt Skubisz and Katie Wimmer combined to make three saves, as the pair continued to split the 60 minutes of action as they have all season.
Friday’s win was a measure of revenge for head coach Erin Matson’s program, which fell in upset fashion to Saint Joseph’s in last season’s national semifinals. UNC came into that game with an unbeaten record and – as it is this season as well – as the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed.
Carolina is now 20-1 on the season and has won 12 straight games. Duke and Iowa will face off at Karen Shelton Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Friday to decide who faces the Tar Heels Sunday. A start time for Sunday’s second-round game has yet to be announced.
Featured image via UNC Field Hockey on Twitter
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