UNC Snags 3-0 Victory Over Duke, Earns Final Four Spot

UNC celebrates 3-0 victory over Duke. (Courtesy of the Daily Tar Heel)

The top-ranked UNC field hockey team shut out No. 9 Duke 3-0 Sunday in Chapel Hill to earn a spot in the Final Four.

The Blue Devil loss ends their season with a 13-7 record. The Tar Heels improve to 19-3 overall and extend their season another game.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be going to the Final Four,” UNC coach Karen Shelton says. “I want to congratulate Duke on a great season. They are an outstanding team and I think you could see the intensity level of the game.”

(Photo courtesy of the Daily Tar Heel)

Senior Loren Shealy scored the first goal of the game on a penalty corner in the 32^nd minute of play.

Junior Emma Bozek led the Tar Heels in scoring and scored her first goal in the 57^th minute. Bozek’s second goal came in the 67^th minute assisted by junior Emily Wold and brought UNC to their 3-0 lead over Duke.

“They’ve been setting me up for every single goal I’ve had this season and it’s all just come together really nice,” Bozek says. “I think my two goals today were because of some amazing passing combinations further down the field. It’s really nice to see that everyone’s really working hard and working together.”

Bozek’s second goal marked her team-high 15^th goal of the season, more than her two previous years combined.

“I think they brought out the best in us today,” Shelton says. “I’m really proud of our Tar Heels. I thought it was a balanced team effort and led primarily by our seniors.”

For five of the women on the UNC field hokey team, Sunday marked the last home game of their college careers.

“To end my career at home against Duke, it’s arguably one of the greatest rivalry in all the sports and it’s just an amazing feeling. I really can’t describe it,” Shealy says. “You kind of dream about one of these games going into the Final Four.”

Top-ranked UNC will face No. 4 Syracuse Friday in an NCAA Tournament semifinal game in College Park, Md.

FINAL BOX SCORE

‹

No. 1 UNC Field Hockey Downs No. 15 Duke in Double Overtime on Senior Day

Bryn Boylan scored on a penalty stroke in the second overtime on Friday at Karen Shelton Stadium, giving the top-ranked UNC field hockey team a 4-3 Senior Day victory over the No. 15 Duke Blue Devils. This was the third meeting of the season between the Tar Heels (13-1) and Blue Devils (3-11), and the […]

UNC Field Hockey Downs Duke in Overtime

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 […]

Field Hockey: UNC Rebounds From First Loss With Shutout Win Over Duke

Having just suffered the program’s first loss since the 2017 NCAA Tournament this past Friday against Louisville, the UNC field hockey team got back in the win column on Sunday in Durham with a 4-0 win over the Duke Blue Devils. Erin Matson, Eva Smolenaars, Hannah Griggs and Romea Riccardo each scored for the Tar […]

No. 1 UNC Field Hockey Shuts Out No. 2 Duke, Remains Undefeated

A showdown between the nation’s top two field hockey teams on Friday afternoon in Chapel Hill went in favor of No. 1, as UNC put on another dominant defensive showing in a 2-0 shutout over the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils. Marissa Creatore provided the difference on the scoreboard with her goal in the 25th […]

Top-Ranked UNC Field Hockey Stays Unbeaten With 5-2 Victory Over No. 4 Duke on Senior Day

Five different players scored a goal for the top-ranked UNC field hockey team during Sunday’s Senior Day at Karen Shelton Stadium, leading the Tar Heels to a 5-2 victory over the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils. The win improves UNC to 16-0 this season (6-0 ACC), while Duke drops to 13-4 (5-1 ACC). This game […]

Field Hockey: Top-Ranked Tar Heels Stay Undefeated With 2-0 Win Over No. 4 Duke

A rivalry showdown between two of the nation’s top five field hockey teams saw No. 1 UNC pull out a 2-0 victory over the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils in Durham on Friday night. The win improved the Tar Heels to 8-0 (2-0 ACC) this season, while dropping the Blue Devils to 6-3 (1-1 ACC). […]

UNC Field Hockey Comes Up Short Against No. 2 Duke

A heavyweight battle between two of the nation’s top field hockey teams didn’t go quite as planned for head coach Karen Shelton and the fifth-ranked Tar Heels on Friday night in Durham. UNC came up just short in its comeback bid against No. 2 Duke, falling by a score of 3-2. Alyssa Chillano scored a […]

Erin Matson Wins Second Consecutive Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey

UNC junior forward Erin Matson earned her second consecutive Honda Sport Award for field hockey on Wednesday, an honor which recognizes the top women’s athletes in the country across 12 different NCAA sports. Matson led the Tar Heels to their third consecutive national championship last month, scoring the overtime game-winner against Michigan in the title […]

UNC Field Hockey Earns Top Overall Seed for NCAA Tournament

The UNC field hockey team once again finds itself in a familiar place, as the Tar Heels were named the top overall seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row. This year’s tournament will feature just 12 teams due to the pandemic, which also forced the event to be played […]

Matson Earns Third Straight ACC Field Hockey Player of the Year Award

For the third consecutive season, the ACC selected UNC junior forward Erin Matson as the ACC Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Year. Announced as the winner on Thursday, Matson led the ACC this season with 56 points, scoring 24 goals and dishing out eight assists. She becomes the just the second field hockey athlete […]

›