Head coach Karen Shelton said Saturday after the UNC field hockey team’s NCAA First Round victory that she considered her Tar Heels the underdogs heading into their matchup with No. 2 Maryland in the Quarterfinals.

Based on the results, though, it’s tough to imagine this Tar Heel team being underdogs against anyone–as No. 4 UNC defeated the Terrapins 3-0 at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex to advance to its eighth straight Final Four.

After posting four shutouts the entire regular season, UNC and senior goalie Shannon Johnson have now posted back-to-back shutouts in the NCAA Tournament on the way to the 21st Final Four in program history.

Sophomore midfielder Ashley Hoffman carried the load offensively for the Tar Heels–scoring two goals in the win. Fittingly enough, it was Hoffman’s game-winner against Michigan last year as a freshman that sent UNC to the Final Four.

“After the game all of us were like, ‘THIS is how we play field hockey,’” Hoffman said. “That’s really exciting going into the Final Four. We feel like we’re peaking right now, and that’s an awesome feeling.”

With the team comfortably ahead towards the end of the game, senior Lauren Moyer took advantage of an empty net situation to tack on the Tar Heels’ final goal of the day.

Although it’s the eighth straight year UNC has made it this far in the NCAA Tournament, this represents the first time since 2009 it’s had to win on the road in order to get there.

“I’m absolutely thrilled for the team,” said Shelton, who has led her squad to the Final Four more times than any coach in NCAA field hockey history. “Only four teams get to be busy this week, and it’s something to celebrate.”

Next up for the Tar Heels is a semifinal date next Friday in Norfolk, Virginia against Connecticut–which upset No. 3 Syracuse in the Quarterfinals.

Delaware and Princeton will face off in the other semifinal, with the winners of each game competing for the title on Sunday.

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