97. The Hill and Chapelboro.com digital content manager Dakota Moyer moonlights as the station’s photographer. He chose his favorite UNC sports images of 2019 as the year comes to a close. (Click on the photos for a larger view)
Chazz Surratt (21) and Tomon Fox (12) pose for a photo after Surratt records a sack in North Carolina’s game against Clemson on Saturday, September 28 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: This was the first game during Carolina’s season that it truly felt like the Tar Heels were building something special. On a third down midway through the game, Chazz Surratt sacked Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and he posed for a picture along with his teammates.
Honestly, it just looked like UNC was having so much fun on the field that day. The Tar Heels came up just shy of upsetting then-No. 1 Clemson, but the Tar Heels looked like they belonged on the field competing with the top team in the country that day. It was a testament to what Mack Brown is building in Chapel Hill.
Rontavius Groves (4) waves the American flag as UNC prepares to exit the tunnel before a game against Appalachian State on Saturday, September 21 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: I managed to snap this photo moments before UNC ran out of the tunnel before the Tar Heels’ game against App State. Before every game, one player is chosen to hold the American flag as the team exits the tunnel. I loved the way Rontavious Groves is framed against the blue smoke in the background.
UNC-App State had one of the most electric atmospheres of any game I attended this year. From the opening kickoff, both fanbases were loud and rocked the stadium.
Isabel Cox (13) leaps onto Alessia Russo (19) after Russo scores the game-winning goal for UNC in the ACC Tournament title game against Virginia on Sunday, November 10 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: The ACC Tournament championship went into overtime between UNC and Virginia and it was deadlocked until Alessia Russo scored the game-winning goal.
I love this photo because it shows the pure emotion of a close, heart-pounding game like this one. Both UNC and Virginia had so many chances to win it during regulation, and the “golden goal” aspect of overtime only added to the intensity.
Members of UNC women’s soccer pose for a photo after winning the program’s 22nd ACC Tournament title on Sunday, November 10 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: Much like in the previous photo, the atmosphere in this game is really what made it special. Here, members of UNC women’s soccer pose for a team picture just moments after beating Virginia in the ACC Tournament title game.
Cassie Sumfest hugs a teammate after UNC field hockey defeats Princeton in the national championship game on Sunday, November 24 at Kentner Stadium in Winston-Salem. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: UNC field hockey made history with another undefeated national championship season in 2019. In this photo, Cassie Sumfest hugs a teammate as the team was given their national championship hats.
Even though they’ve done this before, you could tell this accomplishment meant a lot to this group of Tar Heels. The season is long, difficult and unforgiving. The fact that UNC field hockey has managed back-to-back undefeated seasons speaks to the culture of this program.
Members of UNC’s band perform before the Tar Heels arrive at the bell tower on campus ahead of UNC’s game against Duke on October 26. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: Fun fact, the band members in this picture aren’t even members of the regular band. They’re actually band alumni, who made the trip back to Chapel Hill for Homecoming.
That’s the reason I love this photo, because it shows how the Carolina community comes back to Chapel Hill to support the current generation and reminisce about UNC’s history.
Marissa Creatore (33) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal to give UNC a 4-3 win over Princeton on Friday, September 6 at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: UNC’s game against Princeton early in the season was the first time the Tar Heels faced a challenge. Down 3-1, UNC scored three goals in the fourth quarter to complete a frantic comeback in a battle of Top-5 teams.
In this picture, Marissa Creatore jumps for joy after scoring the game-winning goal in the closing seconds of the game. The official box score labels her goal at 59:36, so you can imagine the excitement in that moment as the Tar Heels complete the comeback.
Mack Brown claps to the fans as he departs the field after UNC football defeats Duke on Saturday, October 26 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: The UNC-Duke football game was one for the ages. I actually had a bad angle on Surratt’s interception to seal the win, but I managed to be in a good position as Brown left the field.
Brown went and high-fived the student section before leaving the field and their presence in the game is something the head coach constantly acknowledges. For the first time in a long time, the Tar Heels sold out every home game and this wasn’t lost on Brown and his staff.
Members of UNC women’s soccer hoist the ACC Tournament trophy after the Tar Heels defeat Virginia on Sunday, November 10 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: The scrum on the field after a big game like this is always chaotic, but tracking the journey of the trophy is always an interesting adventure.
First it goes from staff personnel to players on the field, then to individual players as they pose for pictures, then perhaps back to the head coach. Here, UNC women’s soccer hoists the ACC Tournament trophy one last time before the celebration wound down.
UNC volleyball players and staff huddle after the Tar Heels fall to Wake Forest on Wednesday, November 27 at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: After falling to Wake Forest in their home finale, UNC volleyball huddled for a moment of reflection. The team was not awarded a berth in an NCAA tournament game, so this was their last home game of the season.
This year, I’ve admired how UNC student-athletes sing the alma mater after every game regardless of result. I think it encapsulates the spirit of college athletics, where the fan and athlete interaction is much closer than in other sports.
Sam Howell (7) points to the sky as he takes the field as UNC football faces off against Clemson on Saturday, September 28 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: I wish I could embed the ear-splitting cheers that echoed throughout the stadium as Sam Howell took the field in this photo. Howell’s performance in 2019 was incredible and here he takes a moment of reflection before facing off against No. 1 Clemson.
Karen Shelton salutes the fans after UNC field hockey defeats Princeton on Friday, September 6 at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: As previously mentioned, UNC needed to score three goals in the closing minutes of the game to defeat Princeton early in the season.
After the game, head coach Karen Shelton walked over to the fans and personally thanked them for coming out and cheering them on. It was a great moment and it showed how much she cared about the fan support.
Emily Fox (11) dribbles with the ball as UNC women’s soccer takes on Belmont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, November 16 at Anson Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: I love motion in sports, even though I’m not the best at capturing it. Here, Emily Fox dribbles with the ball down the field and I managed to freeze her face in focus with the rest of the action blurred in motion.
Finding new ways to photograph sports and perfecting old techniques is one of my biggest motivations for 2020 and beyond.
Members of the UNC field hockey team hoist the national championship trophy into the air moments after defeating Princeton on Sunday, November 24 at Kentner Stadium in Winston-Salem. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Why I chose this photo: As the clock hit zero in the national championship game, UNC’s bench emptied as players rushed the field. Here, players frantically try and touch the trophy that they’ve worked so hard to win. I love this photo because it shows that the game is more than just one player, with everyone reaching out to get a piece of the trophy (plus, there’s a bit of Rameses in the background).
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