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 lead into the locker room, with a goal from junior midfielder Eva Smolenaars as the difference. A pair of goals from sophomore forward Erin Mattson in the third quarter increased their score, with goals from Smolenaars and sophomore forward Hannah Griggs in the fourth to put the game away.

Carolina played and defeated Princeton earlier in the season, winning a thriller against the Tigers in September.

The championship is UNC Field Hockey and head coach Karen Shelton’s eighth title. UNC has now won 51 national championships across all sports.

On the season, the Tar Heels outscored their opponents 92-24. Mattson, who is theย 2019 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, led the team with 33 total goals.

 

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 โœ…#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/JjO0fNw45D — UNC 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 โ€œNotes from the Fieldโ€ 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 […]
November 19, 2018: Karen Shelton
UNC field hockey won the 2018 NCAA championship with a 2-0 win over Maryland in Sunday's final. Aaron spoke with legendary Tar Heel head coach Karen Shelton, now a seven-time national champion.
Current, Former Tar Heels Claim Gold With USA Field Hockey
Team USA Field Hockey features five current or former Tar Heels.
UNC Field Hockey Beats No. 7 Michigan in 2025 Season Opener
Goals from Ryleigh Heck and her sister Kara helped No. 2 UNC beat No. 7 Michigan in the 2025 season opener in Iowa City, IA Friday afternoon. The game was also the first of a weekend doubleheader for the Tar Heels as part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The first of Many ๐Ÿ‘#GoHeels x @WellsFargo […]
Chansky's Notebook: The Flying Dutch
Art Chansky breaks down the season outlook for the UNC field hockey team in Erin Matson's third year as head coach.
Chansky's Notebook: Let's Go, Ladies!
The UNC field hockey and women's soccer programs are set to be nationally competitive once again this fall.
UNC Field Hockey Announces 2025 Regular Season Schedule
The UNC field hockey program has announced its 2025 regular-season schedule. The Tar Heels are looking to reach at least the NCAA semifinals for the fourth consecutive season. Tell a friend to tell a friend, ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—น๐˜€ ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐˜ฝ๐˜ผ๐˜พ๐™†! The 2025 schedule is here ๐Ÿ“† pic.twitter.com/LPFCFpGp6A — Carolina Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) July 18, 2025 The […]
'We're Walking a Fine Line': UNC's Erin Matson Talks House Settlement, New AD and Upcoming Season
UNC field hockey head coach Erin Matson joined 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell for a wide-ranging conversation Monday. Matson discussed the effects of the House settlement on her program, the hiring of Steve Newmark athletic director-in-waiting and preparations for the 2025 season. Read Matson’s comments, which have been lightly edited for clarity, below, orย click here […]
›