A goal by junior Hannah Griggs in overtime on Sunday at Karen Shelton Stadium helped the UNC field hockey team escape with a 5-4 victory over the rival Duke Blue Devils.

All-American Erin Matson found Griggs with a pass across the middle, which she then tapped in for the win — narrowly avoiding an upset loss to a winless Duke team which fell to 0-5 so far this season.

Matson and Cassie Sumfest each scored in the first half for the Tar Heels (6-1), as the teams went into the halftime break tied at 2-2.

Back-to-back goals from Eva Smolenaars then gave UNC a 4-2 advantage early in the fourth quarter, before Duke came storming back to force overtime with just 10 seconds remaining.

Duke senior Lexi Davidson tied the game on a penalty stroke attempt, forcing the Tar Heels to dig deep and pull out the victory in the extra period.

“It means a lot to us to beat Duke, to our University and to every sports team here at Carolina,” head coach Karen Shelton said afterwards. “In a game that on paper is somewhat meaningless – this wasn’t the conference game that counts toward the standings – it’s about pride and we do want to win. Duke gave us a great battle but in the end we found a way to win.”

Up Next:

The Tar Heels will have 12 days off before their next game against Wake Forest on Oct. 30.

 

 

Photo via Dana Gentry (UNC Athletics)

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