In the first home game since the new stadium was renamed after head coach Karen Shelton, the top-ranked UNC field hockey team stayed undefeated on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over No. 15 Virginia in a game that was rescheduled due to Hurricane Florence.

Malin Evert scored twice, while Meredith Sholder added a goal off of a deflection as the Tar Heels won to move to 9-0 (3-0 ACC) so far in 2018.

UNC went ahead just over five minutes into the game when Evert finished off an opportunity set up by a penalty corner. Sholder then doubled the lead midway through the first half, before Evert added the final insurance goal early in the second half when she sent home a cross from teammate Hannah Griggs.

Although the Tar Heels were able to convert on the opportunities they created, they still finished with a season-low seven shots in the game–the first time all year they’d been held to single digits in that category.

Defense was the name of the game yet again, however, as UNC held Virginia to just six shots and finished off its sixth shutout of the season.

“I’m thrilled we were able to get the shutout,” Shelton said afterwards. “I think we’re taking real pride in our defense. I feel like we had a lot of possession – we’d like to see more offensive outcome because of that, but three goals against zero is a great outcome.”

Up Next:

The Tar Heels face-off against Syracuse this Saturday in Chapel Hill. That game will start at 1:00 p.m.

 

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)