Field Hockey: Erin Matson Named a Finalist for Honda Award

Just a few weeks removed from leading UNC to a third consecutive NCAA championship with an overtime game-winning goal, junior forward Erin Matson was selected Tuesday as one of four finalists for the Honda Award in field hockey.

The award recognizes the top player in collegiate field hockey and finalists were selected by a panel of coaches and experts from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Matson–who won the Honda Award in 2019–led the Tar Heels with 29 goals in just 20 games played, while also tying for second on the team with nine assists. Her average of 1.45 goals per game led the country, as she earned ACC Offensive Player of the Year recognition for the third time in her illustrious career.

Since Matson arrived on campus prior to the 2018 season, UNC has gone 62-1 in the 63 games she has played in–including a 47-game winning streak to begin her career and a 19-1 record this season.

Over her three years with the Tar Heels, the Pennsylvania native has racked up a whopping 82 goals and 43 assists–good enough for 207 total points.

Despite having another year of eligibility remaining, she has already started to earn comparisons to Mia Hamm and Michael Jordan as one of the best athletes in UNC history.

On #UNC's Erin Matson:

.@awaytoworthy: "She's the closest thing the campus has seen to (Mia) Hamm."@patjames24: Matson is one of the BEST field hockey players in the world. All levels.@UNCKirschner: "She’s on the short list as one of the best Tar Heels, any sport all time."

— Ross Martin (@RossMartin_IC) May 10, 2021

The winner of this year’s Honda Award will be announced on in early June once voting is completed. Other finalists alongside Matson include: Sophie Hamilton (Connecticut), Megan Schneider (Louisville) and Corinne Zanolli (Stanford).

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually for the last 45 years to the top women’s athletes across 12 different NCAA-sanctioned sports.

Winners become finalists for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2021 Honda Cup which will be presented on a telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 28^th.

 

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