Field Hockey Regains Spark in Weekend Romp

The Tar Heels rebounded from a 2-0 loss to Wake Forest on Wednesday with wins against Duke and Richmond at Henry Stadium.

On Sunday, the Spiders offered little resistance against the Tar Heels' aggressive offensive attack in an 8-0 loss. UNC topped Duke 5-0 Saturday.

"I think we all definitely took it to heart being accused of not playing very hard and with a lot of intensity because we all know we have that," said UNC freshman Carey Fetting-Smith.

North Carolina senior Abby Martin opened the scoring 12 minutes into the first half. The sweeper blasted a shot from 13 yards out into the right side of the net to give the Tar Heels (8-2, 1-0 in the ACC) an early 1-0 lead.

With 9:10 left in the first half, Martin laced a ball through the charging penalty-corner defense into the right side of the net to tally her second goal of the day.

A Kelsey Keeran score gave UNC a 3-0 lead at intermission, but the Tar Heels weren't done. North Carolina then exploded for five second-half goals.

UNC set the tone with 28:36 left in the second half with a 10-yard, left-side goal from Fetting-Smith, off a side pass from Meredith Keller.

Before the contest was complete, the Tar Heels would add four more goals, including the game-capping blast by Kerry Falgowski with 7:47 remaining.

Against No. 10 Duke on Saturday, the Tar Heels began showing the seemingly elusive spark that UNC coach Karen Shelton was looking for from her team.

"I think we made a positive step in recognizing the fact that even though we are good, we have to play with emotion," Shelton said.

Goals from Kerry Falgowski, Keeran, Martin and Abbey Woolley provided more than enough offense to defeat the Blue Devils (5-3, 0-1 in the ACC).

The Tar Heels began the game with a connection between Falgowski and Fetting-Smith, who scored the opening goal with 16:01 left in the first half.

The second half began with a goal from Keeran, who was assisted by Keller.

After two penalty corners, during which shots by Fetting-Smith and Martin were denied, Martin netted a long-range strike from 15 yards out with 16:10 left.

Two minutes later, Woolley slipped her defender on a breakaway, faked out the goalie and eased the ball in from ten yards out.

Falgowski finished the Blue Devils off by stuffing the rebound of a Woolley shot into the net with 6:50 remaining.

This Saturday, the Tar Heels have an opportunity to avenge their loss to the Demon Deacons when they play Wake in a conference game in Winston-Salem.

"We're eager to get to them again," Martin said. "It's been great that we can play them right away after we lost to them on Wednesday so we can remember what it felt like to lose."

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.