UNC Field Hockey Overcomes Deficit, Scores in Final Minute to Beat No. 9 Syracuse

No. 2 UNC overcame a 3-1 deficit and scored the game-winning goal with just 19 seconds remaining to win at No. 9 Syracuse Friday afternoon. The Tar Heels have now won five consecutive games since their only loss of the season.

Charly Bruder opened the scoring just 2:32 into the game to give the Tar Heels an early lead, but the Orange flipped the score by the end of the first quarter and led 2-1. The hosts added to their lead early in the second quarter and carried that 3-1 edge into halftime, despite UNC holding a slight advantage in total shots (10-9).

Bruder started the Tar Heels on the comeback trail with her second goal of the day at the 10:31 mark of the third quarter, scoring from point-blank range to bring UNC back within a goal at 3-2. Dani Mendez knotted the score at 3-3 early in the fourth, tapping in a deflected ball off a UNC penalty corner.

The game remained tied at 3-3 until the final moments, setting the stage for more heroics from Bruder. After goalie Katie Wimmer stopped a potential go-ahead Syracuse goal, UNC regained possession and started a counterattack. With Syracuse playing down a player, Bruder broke free behind the defense and corralled a long pass. The Orange goalie stopped Bruder’s first shot attempt, but the second found the back of the cage.

Bruder’s hat trick gives her a team-high 13 goals on the season. The 4-3 win is UNC’s fifth against a Top 10 opponent and its third in a row against a ranked team.

The Tar Heels are now 13-1 overall and 6-1 in ACC play. They will be back in action when they visit Cornell Sunday at 12 p.m.

Featured image via UNC Field Hockey on Twitter

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