Carolina field hockey is just one win away from adding to its national title collection.

The No. 1 UNC team shut out Penn State in its Final Four game on Friday afternoon, winning 3-0 behind a pair of goals from forward Erin Matson. The fifth-year senior also assisted senior Paityn Wirth on the Tar Heels’ third goal to ice the game in the fourth quarter.

Carolina’s appearance in this year’s national championship game will mark head coach Karen Shelton’s and the program’s fourth in the last five seasons and 22nd all-time.

“Congratulations to Penn State or an outstanding season – I know it’s heartbreaking for them, they had such a great year,” Shelton said after the game. “They really made us prepare well. I was proud of our team for executing the game plan and working hard. I thought we defended from the front, as we like to say, and we attacked from the back. Overall a great performance and great senior leadership.”

Matson’s two goals helped the star forward continue to etch her name into record books. Her first, which came from a one-touch deflection from a Kelly Smith pass in the second quarter, tied her with Old Dominion’s Marina DiGiacomo for the all-time records in career goals and career points in the NCAA Tournament. Matson then broke the record in the very next quarter, slotting a shot from the left side of the net past Penn State goalie Brie Barraco.

While Matson provided the finishing for UNC’s offense, the Tar Heels’ defense was stout against the Nittany Lions, only allowing one shot on goal. The shut-out performance is goalie Abigail Taylor’s first of the postseason.

Carolina field hockey will look to win its tenth national title on Sunday in Mansfield, CT., taking on No. 2 Northwestern: the very same program who knocked out the Tar Heels in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The match will start at 1:30 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Field Hockey on Twitter

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

 

Related Stories
‹
No. 2 UNC Field Hockey Picks Up Win vs. Iowa, Sweeps ACC-Big Ten Challenge
A pair of third quarter goals earned the UNC field hockey team its second ranked win of the year, beating No. 6 Iowa 2-1.
UNC Field Hockey Opens 2024 Season With Win at No. 12 Michigan
The champs are back, and they’re back in style. The UNC field hockey team opened its 2024 title defense in the best possible way, trouncing No. 12 Michigan 4-1 on the road in Ann Arbor on Friday. That's one ✅#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/JjO0fNw45D — Carolina Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) August 30, 2024 After weathering a storm of Michigan […]
'Who's Going to Turn Down Another Year in Chapel Hill?': Matson Talks Return, New Column
On August 17, 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck chatted with UNC field hockey star Erin Matson, about her new “Notes from the Field” column sponsored by Chapel Hill Tire on Chapelboro.com. “Notes from the Field” is about Matson’s life in field hockey and day-to-day adventures. This transcript has been edited for clarity. You can listen […]
UNC Field Hockey Earns Second Straight National Title, Undefeated Season
UNC Field Hockey won its second straight national title on Sunday, defeating the Princeton Tigers 6-1. The victory meant the No. 1-ranked Tar Heels completed their second straight season with no losses, finishing with a 23-0 record. Princeton struck first, but Carolina responded with two goals before the end of the half to take a […]
Current, Former Tar Heels Claim Gold With USA Field Hockey
Team USA Field Hockey features five current or former Tar Heels.
This Week in UNC Sports: October 26-November 1, 2026
This series of posts will be made weekly on Chapelboro with a full schedule of UNC sports contests, both in Chapel Hill and elsewhere. Note that game times and broadcast information are subject to change due to inclement weather or other factors. The week of Halloween means several UNC sports will be wrapping up their […]
UNC Field Hockey: Tar Heels Lose to No. 10 Wake Forest, Beat Appalachian State
UNC split a pair of weekend games as it draws near the end of the regular season. The Tar Heels dropped a hard-fought game to No. 10 Wake Forest on Senior Day at Karen Shelton Stadium Friday, but rebounded Sunday by traveling up to Boone and dominating Appalachian State. Against the Demon Deacons, Ryleigh Heck […]
The Morning News: Hedgepeth Trial Closing Arguments, Early Voting, UNC Football
In today's news: closing arguments wrap up and the jury begins deliberating in the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial.
This Week in UNC Sports: October 19-25, 2026
This series of posts will be made weekly on Chapelboro with a full schedule of UNC sports contests, both in Chapel Hill and elsewhere. Note that game times and broadcast information are subject to change due to inclement weather or other factors. October will roll on with another very busy week of Tar Heel sports. […]
UNC Sports: Field Hockey Wins; Volleyball, Women's Soccer Both Lose On the Road
Several UNC women’s sports programs were in action Sunday. The field hockey team earned a ranked win at home, while the volleyball team and the top-ranked women’s soccer team both fell on the road to highly-ranked foes. In field hockey, a late goal from Charly Bruder broke a 1-1 tie with No. 13 Syracuse and […]
›