Field hockey clinches No. 1 seed in ACCs

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The North Carolina field hockey team beat host Maryland 2-1 in overtime Saturday afternoon to finish 4-0 in ACC play, claiming the regular-season conference title and the top seed in the ACC Tournament.

The No. 2 Tar Heels improved to 17-1 overall with the win, while No. 4 Maryland fell to 13-4 and 2-2 in the ACC.

"Maryland is a highly-ranked opponent, and the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament was up for grabs, so the game was huge," said UNC coach Karen Shelton.

"I was very pleased with our defense. We only gave up one penalty corner in regulation and one in overtime. Our defense was the difference in the game today."

The game winner for North Carolina came 12 minutes into the sudden-death overtime period on a penalty corner. Senior Laura Douglas scored the goal, assisted by sophomore Rachel Dawson.

UNC is now 2-1 in overtime games this season. The overtime game was Maryland's third in four games. The Terps are 2-2 in extra time this season.

The Terrapins got on the board first when Tiffany Marsh scored on a pass from Janneke van Leeuwen in the 24th minute of play.

The Tar Heels tied the score five minutes into the second half when senior Kerry Falgowski tipped in a shot by senior Carey Fetting-Smith on a penalty corner.

The game remained tied at 1-1 through the rest of regulation, forcing the seven-on-seven extra period.

UNC had 14 shots on the day, nine in the second half and just the game winner in overtime. Maryland had 11 shots, six of them in the first half. The Tar Heels led 7-2 on penalty corners. UNC goalkeeper Katy Tran made three saves, one in each period, and Maryland's Kathryn Masson had five.

"The team put up their best fight against a really good team, and I'm totally impressed with them," said Maryland head coach Missy Meharg of her squad. "It was a great game. (UNC) is the best team we've played all year."

NC doubles team advances

North Carolina's Geoff Boyd and Brad Pomeroy advanced to the doubles finals of the Wilson/ITA Mideast Region Championships presented by Top of the Hill Sunday afternoon at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center with an 8-6 victory against VCU's Arnaud Lecloerec and Francesc Lleal.

Boyd and Pomeroy overcame an early 3-0 deficit to get the match back on serve at 3-4 in the eight game pro set. UNC then broke VCU's serve to take a 7-6 lead. Pomeroy served the match out, as UNC's team won the last two points from 30-30.

Boyd and Pomeroy will face Duke's Peter Rodrigues and Jonathan Stokke at 1:30 p.m. Monday for the Mideast Region Doubles Championship.