Tar Heels' poise in close games bolsters success

The North Carolina field hockey team entered overtime calm and collected Saturday at No. 4 Maryland.

For a team with nine one-goal victories, four come-from-behind wins and three overtime games under its belt, nail-biters are commonplace.

The poised No. 2 Tar Heels (17-1, 4-0 in the ACC) put the Terrapins away with a penalty corner goal by midfielder Laura Douglas in the extra frame and secured the top seed in the ACC Tournament.

Despite all of the close games, Coach Karen Shelton said she loves the ride.

"I'm actually enjoying it," Shelton said. "When you play the tough ones, those are the ones that excite coaches and get your blood going. I would much rather be in a close game than a blowout."

She said the team has gotten to the point where early deficits do not faze them.

"We have displayed our ability to come from behind," Shelton said. "It's a good thing and can build confidence."

The team came from behind again Saturday after it faced a 1-0 halftime deficit.

Five minutes into the second half, the UNC penalty corner unit found the back of the net on a tip-in by Kerry Falgowski. That goal set up Douglas' dramatic game-winner in overtime.

Douglas, a senior, has seen her production decline this season after an All-American campaign last year. She has four goals and 11 assists this season, compared with eight and 16 at this point last year. But Douglas said she is not worried about her production as much as the team's.

"Our forwards are really doing a good job getting the ball in the goal," she said. "We are really a team this year. A lot of different people are scoring goals for us."

The team's penalty corner has been a point of emphasis this year, and with two conversions Saturday, Shelton said the corner is hitting on all cylinders.

"I think that our corner is looking dangerous," Shelton said. "It's been working in practice. Of course, it's different under the pressure of the game. ... The corner is looking a lot better, I think. We're looking more confident."

Although there are few teams that can match UNC's skill level and confidence on the field, the team must not become complacent, Shelton said, because each future opponent is looking to knock off the highly ranked Tar Heels.

"We know that there are four or five teams out there on any given day that can beat us ... if we don't play well," Shelton said.

One of those upper-echelon teams is No. 6 Old Dominion, who the Tar Heels face this Saturday. UNC prevailed against the Monarchs 1-0 on Sept. 18 at home, but the team must travel to Norfolk, Va., this weekend.

"I'm worried about the game and the rivalry and having to play at their place," Shelton said.

"We saw them a long time ago, and knowing their coaching staff and how they have developed, they will be a much improved team this time around."

Last year's team struggled at the end of the season, losing in the first round of both the ACC and NCAA tournaments. But Douglas and the other seniors have been working to get the team in shape for the postseason grind.

Said Douglas, "We have really worked on not peaking too early this year and keeping our conditioning up, keeping our eyes on the ultimate goal - winning a national championship."

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.