The No. 2 UNC field hockey team used a dominant offensive effort to begin a rare west coast trip with a bang, defeating Cal 7-0 in Berkeley Friday night.

The Tar Heels outshot the Golden Bears 24-3 during the game, including a 15-1 advantage in shots on goal. Even more astonishing, Carolina took a total of 19 penalty corners. Cal took two.

Erin Matson and Jasmina Smolenaars both scored twice on the day, with Ashley Sessa, Alli Meehan and Kennedy Cliggett each scoring once. Head coach Karen Shelton flexed her team’s depth, as 24 total players played in the game. Each played at least 15 minutes.

Strangely enough, all of UNC’s goals came during two quarters. A scoreless opening period gave way to an explosion in the second: Carolina put five into the Cal cage during that 15-minute stretch. Matson’s pair came first, within a stretch of 3:08. Cliggett, Smolenaars and Sessa followed suit in rapid succession. In a span of less than 10 minutes, a 0-0 game had transformed into a 5-0 blowout. Smolenaars and Meehan then each scored in the third quarter.

The win is the team’s second straight shutout victory. The 5-0 Tar Heels have a steady hold on the No. 2 spot in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association rankings, and can move to 6-0 on Sunday at Stanford.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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