Outshooting the UConn Huskies (8-4, 3-1 Big East), 23-8, the UNC field hockey team (11-0, 3-0 ACC) added another shutout win to its undefeated record with a 3-0 victory.
What happened?
Senior forward Erin Matson opened up the scoring early for UNC, rocketing the ball clean past the goalie’s left side and into the net for a first quarter lead.
North Carolina’s season-long strength has been stifling opponent corner opportunities, and it did so in the second quarter, stopping three consecutive UConn corners. Sophomore goalkeeper Abigail Taylor’s three saves — all made in the second quarter — tied her season-high from two days prior at Boston College.
On the offensive end, the Tar Heels’ onslaught in the first half amassed 12 shots on the UConn defense. As UNC put up 11 more shots in the second half, it pushed UConn’s keeper, Cheyenne Sprecher, to 12 saves on the afternoon, making her the Huskies' all-time saves leader.
In the fourth quarter, Matson made yet another statement with a goal off a penalty stroke to improve the score, 2-0. Less than three minutes later, first-year forward and midfielder Ashley Sessa drove the ball down to the center of the circle and shot it. As the ball rebounded off of Sprecher’s pads towards the right side of the net, first-year forward and midfielder Ryleigh Heck tapped it in for the final goal of the afternoon with UNC leading 3-0.
Who stood out?
With 10 shots and two goals, Matson is now tied for the ACC career scoring mark with 306 points.
Heck was also an offensive threat, gaining career bests with four shots and three shots on goal.
