The No.2 UNC field hockey team has not found itself trailing in very many games so far this season. But the Tar Heels did on Sunday afternoon, as they were on the road taking on No. 13 Saint Joseph’s.

In the waning seconds of the first quarter, the Hawks got onto the board first after forward Manu Ghigliotti scooped a shot into the Carolina goal. It was the first time UNC has conceded a first period goal since their match on September 3 against Princeton.

Nine minutes into the second quarter, though, the Tar Heels found their equalizer. After the Saint Joseph’s keeper saved a shot from a penalty corner, freshman Charly Bruder collected the rebound and fired it into the net to tie it up at 1-1.

From there, Carolina didn’t look back — picking up three more goals from three additional players. Sophomore Sietske Brüning scored after the second quarter horn blew, as the Tar Heels used another penalty corner to get into position near the Hawks’ goal. Sophomore Ryleigh Heck and senior Paityn Wirth each picked up goals in the fourth quarter to help ice the game. SJU was only able to muster one other shot on target during the final period.

“It was an important out-of-conference win against a tough and disciplined team,” UNC coach Erin Matson said afterward. “We had a little bit of a slow start but stuck to the game plan. The way we played in the second half, that’s what we want to look like.”

With the victory, Carolina (8-1) remains undefeated on the road this season. Next up for the Tar Heels are two home games: one against Boston College on Friday, and the other against Liberty on Sunday.

For highlights on Sunday’s win over Saint Joseph’s, visit the UNC Field Hockey team’s page on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Photo via Michael Nance/Carolina Athletics Communications.

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