NORFOLK — By the end, as the teams were lining up for penalty shootouts, it was evident.
The No. 3 North Carolina field hockey team had lost its aggressive edge, and the Connecticut Huskies had found theirs.
And when UNC fell to UConn 2-1 in the semifinal round of the NCAA tournament, that change in momentum was a significant factor.
It was mirrored in the way both teams’ goalies approached the shootout. UNC’s junior keeper Sassi Ammer chose to stay back, waiting for the UConn players to make their move before she reacted.
UConn’s Sarah Mansfield launched herself towards her opponent at the whistle, making diving and jumping saves.
North Carolina outshot the Huskies 13-4 during regulation, but afterwards, that offense disappeared. The Tar Heels didn’t put up a single shot in either overtime period, while UConn launched eight.
“It’s a game of inches in the end, everyone’s tired,” sophomore Emily Wold said. “It comes down to who can keep pushing. When you go through an entire game and then another two overtime periods, it’s tough.”
The Tar Heels fought from behind for most of regulation. UConn’s Marie Elena Bolles scored on the Huskies’ first corner of the night fewer than five minutes into the game.
But after junior forward Charlotte Craddock eluded the UConn goalie and poked in the equalizer just after halftime, it looked as though UNC was in control.
