The No. 1 UNC field hockey team improved its record to 10-0 Friday afternoon in Boston, but it didn’t come easy. The Tar Heels were outshot for the first time all season against the No. 19 Boston College Eagles and had to withstand a second-half rally to keep their perfect record intact.

Carolina jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half, with goals from Ashley Sessa, Jasmina Smolenaars and Ryleigh Heck doing the damage. At halftime, it looked like it might be another easy win for the No. 1 team in the land.

Not so. Boston College scored just 4:45 into the third quarter, then drew within one early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles’ Kara Heck scored both goals.

With the lead down to 3-2, star attacker Erin Matson took control. Matson took control of a loose ball near the Boston College cage and potted it for a critical goal, increasing UNC’s lead to 4-2 with 7:31 remaining in the game. It was Matson’s 14th goal of the season.

Not quite out of tricks, the Eagles got one back on a penalty stroke with 2:25 to go, but could get no further. Boston College took 20 shots total in the game, including eight on goal. UNC goalies Abigail Taylor and Kylie Walbert combined for five saves, keeping Carolina in front of the feisty Eagles. Carolina registered 15 shots of its own, meaning the team has shot in double digits in each game this season.

The Tar Heels will stay in New England for the weekend, visiting No. 12 Connecticut on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Huskies’ campus is also the site of this year’s Final Four.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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