The No. 2 UNC field hockey team put out a strong statement to begin the regular season Friday afternoon. The statement? That they feel their ranking is one spot too low.

The Tar Heels dominated No. 3 Michigan at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge in Winston-Salem, avenging a season-opening defeat last season with a commanding 5-1 victory.

Superstar forward Erin Matson, playing in her final collegiate season, opened her scoring account with a goal in the third quarter. But it was true freshman Ashley Sessa who stole the show, collecting a hat trick in her first-ever game as a Tar Heel. Sessa’s six shots were tied with Matson for most on the team.

Ryleigh Heck, yet another talented freshman at head coach Karen Shelton’s disposal, opened the scoring in the first quarter. Heck slotted home the goal off an assist from Paityn Wirth, who ended the day with a team-high three assists. Sessa scored in the second quarter to send Carolina into halftime up 2-0.

After Michigan scored less than two minutes into the second half, Matson answered to restore the two-goal advantage heading into the final period. Sessa then notched her second and third scores in a span of less than two minutes to ice the game.

Carolina’s relentless offensive attack took 14 shots on goal to just five for the Wolverines. The Michigan goalkeeper had to make five saves in the first quarter alone. On the other end of the field, Shelton split goalkeeping duties between Abigail Taylor, who started all of 2021, and freshman Kylie Walbert. Walbert allowed the Wolverines’ only goal after taking over for Taylor to begin the second half, but did make three saves.

Carolina will play the second game of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge in Winston-Salem on Sunday, when the Tar Heels face No. 5 Iowa. Like Michigan, the Hawkeyes also defeated UNC in this same event last season. Sunday’s game will begin at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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