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

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