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(12/03/08 5:00am)
It's never easy being No. 1. Just ask the 2008 North Carolina field hockey team.Coming off an undefeated national championship 2007 season and being tabbed as the nation's best in the preseason the team learned how hard it is to be at the top.The Tar Heels lost two of their first three matches but more importantly" dropped their first-round contests in both the ACC and NCAA tournaments.""I think we had a good season with some good wins and some really positive things" senior Britt van Beek said. But it's still disappointing to lose in NCAAs" especially since I feel like we should have won that game.""From the beginning" the season rarely felt like one that would lead to the successes the Tar Heels were expected to reach.And though North Carolina finished the season ranked No. 7 it didn't reach its early expectations.After her team's first loss in just its second game a 3-2 contest against Iowa on Aug. 31" UNC coach Karen Shelton said her team wasn't ""as good as they thought they were.""If that defeat wasn't enough to prove that sentiment to Shelton's players" another loss a week later — this one to in-state rival Wake Forest — did the trick.The Tar Heels ran off seven straight wins before hosting Wake Forest for the rematch.This time UNC ended up on the right end taking a 4-3 decision against the Demon Deacons.But just when it seemed everything was falling into place for the Tar Heels fate reared its ugly head.In UNC's very next game after the emotional rematch with WFU star junior forward Danielle Forword went down with an injury that ended her season tearing her ACL in the first half at Boston College a match the Tar Heels lost 2-0.Several players — notably van Beek Kate Scholl and junior Illse Davids — stepped up to fill the void left by Forword" but the Tar Heels were never really the same.""Obviously injuries are part of the game. And it was unfortunate that we lost our top goal scorer" Shelton said Tuesday. I still think we had the ability and the talent to overcome the loss of a player that strong" but again it didn't happen when we needed it to.""Even though she played in just 12 games" eight fewer than most of her teammates Forword finished the season with five more goals (16) than her nearest comrade (van Beek).And while the team lacked the bounty of seniors from the 2007 squad" van Beek and Scholl will be missed next season. And the feelings are mutual.""I wish I could still be a part of it"" van Beek said. Because I think they're going to be a great team.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/18/08 5:00am)
The post again dominated the stat line from the onset for the North Carolina women's basketball team in its 102-68 demolition of Kennesaw State. Jessica Breland paced the team with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds with just one missed shot — but what a glorious missed shot it was.With six minutes remaining in the game Breland had a chance to make history. On a breakaway with no Lady Owls in sight Breland took a couple steadying dribbles and launched herself from two feet toward the basket attempting to become the second UNC women's player to dunk in a game. It didn't quite work out.The ball came out of her hand on the way up and rolled around the rim as she yanked it down falling off the edge into the hands of Italee Lucas" who in turn scored two of UNC's 25 second-chance points.""I wish it was at the beginning of the game" I probably would have got it Breland said. I was a little tired. My legs were dead. … It's easier when you're catching it off an alley" 'cause you're basically just pushing it in.""Established North Carolina starters Cetera DeGraffenreid" Rashanda McCants Iman McFarland and Lucas were on the bench to start the game after finishing poorly in the Tar Heels' last game" a 77-65 win against Virginia Commonwealth. But the new lineup didn't slow down the Tar Heels against Kennesaw State (1-1).""Pretty much" it was more of a wake-up call Lucas said. We didn't do some things we should have done in the first game. Coming off the bench" that was good for us.""Apparently it was. Lucas had a career-high 16 points and DeGraffenreid dished a personal-best 10 assists.The Tar Heels (3-0) shot 53 percent on the game" but even when they did miss it usually wasn't the end of the possession — UNC recorded offensive rebounds on 20 of the team's 43 missed shots.But UNC struggled to hold onto the ball for portions of the game" turning the ball over six times in the first four minutes and ending the game with 27.""We had a lot that we shouldn't have had" coach Sylvia Hatchell said. We're going to have to look at some of those … But Kennesaw State" they were quick. They were athletic.""She'la White" who started in place of DeGraffenreid never really got in sync. She shot just 1-of-6 and had only one assist to go along with two turnovers.But she did well to walk off the court after the game at all. With 8:21 remaining in the first half White got a breakaway opportunity and went up for a contested lay-up.Kennesaw State's Jennifer Baker wasn't about to let her score and she met White in the air and knocked her hard to the ground causing White's head to bounce hard off of the floor.DeGraffenreid came in to shoot the free throws" but White re-entered three minutes later no worse for wear.""She was fine. She said she didn't even feel her head"" Lucas said. She said her elbow hurt more than her head. She's a tough cookie.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/17/08 5:00am)
With Tyler Hansbrough out of the lineup Saturday Tar Heel veteran Deon Thompson stepped up to score 17 points and grab seven rebounds" but it was a couple of rookies who stole the show in the paint.The Tar Heel freshmen duo of Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller combined to score 28 points on 8-of-12 shooting. ""That was one of our emphases in practice this week" telling the big guys to post up to make the guards want to throw you the ball senior guard Bobby Frasor said. And once we got comfortable with (Penn's) zone we saw our big guys post up easily and we got them the ball in there. And with a bunch of height advantage" we got some easy buckets.""Coming off the bench and playing through a cold" Davis registered a double-double in his first career game. Not even Hansbrough did that.Through a month of practices" Davis has learned what impresses coach Roy Williams — hustle. That hustle and Davis' self-described ""aggressive"" style were on full display Saturday in his 10-point"" 14-rebound performance.""That's what coach loves. You can miss a shot" and he won't get mad Davis said. But if you don't hustle" that's what makes him mad.""Even with Davis' impressive first game" Zeller — who started in Hansbrough's place — wasn't about to be outshined.While taking only eight shots the 7-foot rookie made eight of 10 free throws and scored 18 points including a thunderous fast-break dunk off a nice dish from senior Danny Green in the second half.But Zeller's most important play came late in the game. With UNC up 10 points with just a few minutes left to play Zeller received a pass from Frasor in the post" quickly turned and threw down a two-handed slam that put an exclamation point on the win.A quick glance at the box score gives a different picture of the game than the one seen with a coach's eye — the seemingly flawless debuts start to lose a little of their luster.""I like to see Ed have 14 rebounds" and that is really good. It (also would be) good for him to not have four turnovers and zero assists Williams said. Tyler Zeller to score 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting is really good. At the same time" I do not expect him to have zero defensive rebounds.""Despite the few shortcomings" the first game for Davis and Zeller was a success.And the game experience will only help once the Tar Heels have a completely healthy lineup.Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/16/08 5:00am)
At 3:37 p.m. Saturday North Carolina kicker Jay Wooten booted the Tar Heels' opening kickoff in College Park Md.At 4 p.m. back in Chapel Hill the basketball team opened its season against the Penn Quakers in front of a not-quite-full Smith Center. But it wasn't UNC's fault. In fact" the University has essentially no say in what time its televised games start.""Well" if anybody thought that we did the last couple of weeks could certainly put that to rest" couldn't it?"" UNC athletics spokesman Steve Kirschner said.The reason for the conflicting schedule Saturday is simple.Television.""We get a chance to express our opinion to the conference office" make suggestions Kirschner said. But in the end it's really not even the conference office" it's the television partnerships that we have.""ABC and ESPN hold the primary rights to ACC football. They can choose up to three ACC teams' games and can air them either nationally or with split regional coverage in essentially any time slot.After ESPN chooses" Raycom Sports — the regional syndicated partner of the ACC — is next to pick.Through its contract with the ACC" Raycom airs its ""ACC Game of the Week"" at noon.""We select a game that we feel is the best for our regional network"" said Colin Smith, vice president of information and new media for Raycom Sports. Then after we make our selection"" ESPN will go back and pick another game for ESPNU or ESPN360.""After the first two games of the season" for which schedules are laid out several weeks before the first kickoff ABC and ESPN typically must select their games at least 12 days before they are played.But twice a season the global sports conglomerate can take a six-day option meaning it can wait until all the previous week's games are complete before selecting which games to air.This option often is taken when conference and divisional titles are in the balance late in the season.Bowing to the mercy of television isn't the most desirable situation for UNC or any other school.But if Butch Davis and Roy Williams keep UNC's most visible teams successful Tar Heel fans might just have to get used to making tough decisions in November and December. It could even happen again this season. If the gridiron Tar Heels are invited to the Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl this season" the basketball team's game at Nevada could tip off before their football cohorts are finished with business in the Georgia Dome.""In a case like this when we have more than one program that people want to see … sometimes you really are at the mercy of when television wants you to play"" said Kirschner, who attended the basketball game while staying updated with the progress in College Park online. And you just make the best of it.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/14/08 5:00am)
Last season one word characterized the North Carolina field hockey team: Dominance.This year one word can't do it. It takes 23 — one for each member of the team.Soon after the squad lost its third game of the season — and its best player Danielle Forword to a torn ACL — on Oct. 10 team leaders called a players-only meeting.They wanted to unite the team behind a single idea. A single word. One that could motivate everyone both on and off the field to work toward defending their 2007 NCAA championship — a task they begin tomorrow in East Lansing Mich. But after struggling to decide on one" they realized something important. They're different people who are motivated in different ways.""We couldn't think of one word" so we went around the room and everybody said a word" junior back Melanie Brill said.Ever since we've had that word on our stick and on our locker. And it's just a daily reminder that we're in this together.""And teammates don't let others forget why they're playing. In field hockey" a sport in which communication on the field is vital instructions are yelled throughout the whole game" sometimes audible even over screaming fans.""Behind you!""""Left! Left!""""Look out"" 12! Look out!""But at Henry Stadium and every field the team has visited since that mid-October afternoon" different cries have become commonplace.When anyone makes a mistake or appears to be looking down on herself teammates use her word to remind her that she is not alone.This weekend the Tar Heels take those words plus 20 more" and their commitment to the team to East Lansing for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.And No. 7 UNC (14-5) has a steep hill to climb if the team intends on defending its title run of last season. Just don't tell the players that.""I'm really excited about it. I think we have a really good shot at doing really well"" senior Kate Scholl said. We just have to go out there and play our best.""Though they are officially the home team for their first-round matchup" it might not seem that way for UNC who squares off against host-team Michigan State.While the Tar Heels will be wearing their home uniforms green and white will be in abundance in the stands at the Spartans' home turf.The two teams last met in 2003 when the Tar Heels cruised to a 3-0 victory. This year the Spartans (16-5) are ranked No. 10 in the nation.It doesn't get any easier from there for the Tar Heels.If they get past the Spartans the team UNC will likely face in its second-round game is the Iowa Hawkeyes" who handed the Tar Heels their first loss this season — and that with Forword in the lineup.But the Tar Heels don't seem worried about the tough opponent.""It's good to play people that you fell to" like when we played Wake Forest again (in the regular season). It's always fun to have a rematch game" Scholl said.And I think it's going to be a good game if we get to them.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/09/08 5:00am)
DURHAM — Talk about taking a team out of its comfort zone. That is just what third-seeded Wake Forest did to the second-seeded North Carolina field hockey squad Friday night in the Tar Heels' 2-1 loss in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.To this point in the season UNC regularly would get two-assist goals from inside the crowded shooting circle taking full advantage of even the smallest of openings.But Friday those spaces were even more cramped thanks in large part to an active Wake Forest defense headed by goalkeeper Crystal Duffield" who made her presence felt well beyond the keeper's traditional territory.""She's a very active goalkeeper" and we're aware of that because we've been playing against her forever UNC coach Karen Shelton said. Friday marked UNC's fifth game against Duffield since 2007 — only the second loss. We know it's coming but it still surprises you if you're down having to maneuver with the ball and all of a sudden" the goalie's on top off you.""Duffield finished the game with five saves"" limiting North Carolina to almost three goals fewer than the Tar Heels' season average.""She's a goalie who comes out quickly"" senior Britt van Beek said. We talked about playing around it or hitting it high over her. It didn't really work out.""North Carolina's lone goal came on a deflection off a penalty corner" when extra space is available as only five Wake Forest defenders — including Duffield — are allowed in the circle.Never was Duffield's attacking style more evident than at the 14-minute mark of the second half.Working off a takeaway on the defensive end the Tar Heels streaked down the field and got the ball to a breaking Charlotte Verstraten. The freshman starter had a one-on-one with Duffield who — just as she had time and time again already — charged the UNC ball handler. And neither was about to give ground to the other resulting in perhaps the game's most exciting moment.Before Verstraten could get off a shot she found herself flipping through the air tripped by the sliding Duffield landing on her back. After reaching for her leg on what briefly appeared to be a serious injury" Verstraten got up and set up with her teammates for the awarded penalty corner.""I just had the feeling she had a goal shot after that. It's tough because (the referee) could have called a stroke" but he didn't van Beek said. I think a corner was the right call too. It's just like it sucks because she was open and she was ready for the shot" and she got taken out.""The Tar Heels didn't convert on that corner or either of their next two" and the Deacons held on to advance to the ACC Championship Game where they lost Sunday to No. 1-seeded Maryland.The 2008 NCAA Tournament field which certainly will include UNC will be announced Tuesday evening and it's anyone's guess as to where the Tar Heels will be playing" whether it be close to home or several hundreds of miles away.""(Wake Forest) will probably host"" Shelton said. And I think either Duke or North Carolina will play (in Winston-Salem) but not both.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/05/08 5:00am)
The North Carolina women's basketball team was never in any danger of dropping its opening exhibition game against Carson-Newman.But one look at the turnover column of the box score provides more than enough evidence that Tuesday's was UNC's first game in nearly six months.The Tar Heels who forced the Eagles into 40 turnovers by utilizing several aggressive defensive sets gave the ball up 30 times themselves" including 16 first-half miscues.But coach Sylvia Hatchell didn't seem too worried about it.""We had way too many turnovers"" she said. But we'll cut that down.""Last season" Hatchell's squad averaged 19 giveaways per game" a number that might seem high before taking into account the uncommonly high number of possessions the Tar Heels had. Hatchell said there were 140 possessions for UNC in Tuesday's game.""It was tiring" point guard Cetera DeGraffenreid said. (Hatchell) said she wanted to go faster" and I feel like it was a lot faster.""With a frantic pace — the Tar Heels had racked up nearly 40 points just 10 minutes into the game — and Carson-Newman employing a swarming full-court press for much of the game" North Carolina often saw the Eagles scoring uncontested baskets.When the pace did settle down to what almost resembled a half-court offense Carson-Newman regularly harassed UNC posts with two and three defenders.To make sure of that" Carson-Newman coach Dean Walsh instructed his players to ""Collapse! Collapse!"" if a UNC big ever had a one-on-one matchup in the post.And who can blame him? The Tar Heels boast a roster with six players at least 6 feet" 1 inch with freshman Chay Shegog standing 6 feet 5 inches. Carson-Newman's Lindsey Eggleston at 6 feet 1 inch" is the only Eagle that stands taller than 72 inches.""Because they were saturating like three defenders down there" I was telling them to reverse the ball and then go in Hatchell said. But we were throwing it in there" and they were collapsing.""Encouraging for the Tar Heels is the fact that their point guards" DeGraffenreid and She'la White accounted for only five turnovers while combining for eight assists.In her first game as a Tar Heel White committed just two turnovers in 20 minutes of action.Never was the UNC dominance at point more evident than at the 6:32 mark of the second half when DeGraffenreid maneuvered through the entire Eagles full-court press before dishing a no-look pass to a wide-open Trinity Bursey for an easy two.But Hatchell noted that even with DeGraffenreid out of the game" she has full confidence in White's ability to maintain possession for UNC.""We can now take (DeGraffenreid) out" let her rest and we won't lose a beat Hatchell said. We can keep on moving" so I like that.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/02/08 4:00am)
In a society where ""student-athletes"" are often scoffed at" North Carolina is doing its part to debunk the stereotype of the dumb jock.In the NCAA's most recent graduation success rates report — which included data from the freshman classes of 1998-2001 — it found UNC to have a success rate of 85 percent" seven percentage points higher than the average for all Division I schools.""I think it's certainly a testament to our student-athletes and to our coaches as well"" said Robert Mercer, director of UNC Academic Support Services.If you're looking for differences"" that's probably it as far as comparing one program to the next.""Five of UNC's squads posted perfect rates while six more reached at least the 90 percent park.""We're very pleased with the graduation success rates of our teams" UNC Director of Athletics Dick Baddour said in a statement issued Oct. 21. But Baddour is not about to go resting on his laurels.As successful as we have been" we're working toward even higher numbers in the future.""While the success of any student-athlete ultimately comes down to the individual" UNC — like many other schools and universities — has a host of departments to thank for its success namely Academic Support Services.Hosted in the Pope Academic Support Center next to the Kenan Field House Support Services provide student-athletes with access to individual and group tutoring study lounges and academic advisers.Each team has different requirements for its members but most range from six to 10 hours of mandatory study time Mercer said.That time can be split up between quiet study group study and individual or group tutoring among several other options.Those programs — in addition to urging from coaches — make sure the student-athletes remember where their priorities should stand.Senior Britt van Beek an exercise and sports science major and forward/midfielder on the UNC field hockey team" is glad to have a guide looking just over her shoulder.""With field hockey being such a big part of your life in college" it's easy to forget about academics but here they don't much let you forget about it she said.(UNC field hockey coach Karen) Shelton always tells you ‘You're a student first" then an athlete.'""And Shelton has a good reason to say that. In her words"" ""Success breeds success.""""I've also found in the past that my most successful teams also performed well in the classroom"" Shelton said. It's a reflection of their discipline with their studies and their athletics.""That discipline is made evident with just one late-night trip to the support center.The center is open until at least 10 p.m. on school nights" and it's a good thing. With schedules that already are jam-packed with class practice and weight training" sometimes late evenings are the only times student-athletes can find for studying.""We will have" on average anywhere from 45 to 100 or so students in here at night Mercer said. I mean" space is an issue.""But crowded or not" apparently the center is doing its job.When told of the rates' release Shelton whose team scored a 91 percent graduation success rate" was quick to credit the University and her student-athletes for their success.""The kids that we recruit come here to get an education. And they come here to play athletics at the highest level. So they get the best of both here" Shelton said. And I'm not surprised at our level of success" and I would only expect it to continue.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/29/08 4:00am)
Never has a North Carolina field hockey team faced the scenario the 2008 squad is facing this week.The No. 6 Tar Heels are hoping to rebound from a 7-0 loss at the hands of the No. 1 Maryland Terrapins with a solid performance against Old Dominion and Davidson this weekend in UNC's last action before postseason play begins.The defeat was the second-worst in program history. But the largest — an 8-0 loss to Old Dominion in 1983 during UNC Hall of Fame coach Karen Shelton's third season — came in the NCAA Tournament" giving the Tar Heels an entire offseason to get the bad taste out of their mouths.This time they get just one week. But Shelton said that is more than enough time for her players to put the loss behind them.""I just read a quote from Dean Smith" and it said ‘When you make a mistake first you need to recognize it admit it learn from it and forget it"'"" Shelton said. ""I think it was a humbling experience. If not anything else"" we don't want that to happen ever again.""Just as they have the last four games" they'll have to do it without leading scorer Danielle Forword who tore her ACL in a 2-0 loss to Boston College on Oct. 10 and is out for the rest of the season.Since the Boston College game the Tar Heels had been impressive. UNC won its next three games by a combined score of 7-1 its opponents' only goal coming in the first Forword-less game a 3-1 win against Yale. Those wins also included contests against top-15 clubs Virginia and James Madison" making the transition to playing without Forword appear more seamless than even the most optimistic Tar Heel fan could have hoped.""The weekend with Virginia and James Madison" we watched film on it and our two-touch passing was incredible senior Kate Scholl said. When we share the ball" we can do really amazing things.""Fellow senior Britt van Beek agreed. ""When we start playing too individualistic is when we fall apart. That's what happened against Maryland and Boston College.""The Tar Heels" who have secured the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament" could potentially face Maryland in the ACC Championship Game.""There's no doubt in my mind that on another day we could beat that team"" Shelton said. I certainly think that will be motivation for us in that first (semifinal) game on Friday night. ""You know"" we would like to have another chance to play them because I think we were embarrassed. Hopefully we'll get that chance.""But for now" Shelton and the Tar Heels have another team toward which to keep their focus.UNC's match-up with the Monarchs in Norfolk Va. on Saturday will be its second against ODU of the season.The Tar Heels took a 3-1 decision in Chapel Hill on Sept. 19 with a healthy Forword. The South African put nine shots on goal one more than the rest of the team combined and scored once.Despite Forword's statistical dominance of UNC's offense" the Tar Heels' style in her absence has remained constant.And Shelton hasn't let the loss of Forword stymie her lofty preseason expectations.""I think that we're still one of the teams that can win a national championship.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/19/08 4:00am)
Something had to break. The North Carolina field hockey team faced off against No. 6 James Madison on Sunday in a clash of styles bound to produce some exciting play.JMU led the nation in goals against average at 0.79 heading into the game while the No. 7 Tar Heels ranked second in the ACC in goals scored" with nearly four goals per contest.""It was kind of a little bit of a chess match in the first half"" UNC coach Karen Shelton said. Both teams were kind of trying to figure each other out.""The Tar Heels ended up beating the Dukes at their own game"" taking a 1-0 victory — UNC's second of the weekend against a top-15 team. The Tar Heels defeated No. 13 Virginia 3-0 Saturday.The game Sunday was controlled by JMU in the first hal as pressure on North Carolina's forwards kept the ball on the Dukes' side of the field for most of the game.""They're a really good team and a really aggressive team"" senior Kate Scholl said. So we knew that they were going to come out hard so we just really focused on passing it around and working it to our strong side.""The second half was a different story. A strong Tar Heels attack saw North Carolina take penalty corner after penalty corner"" eventually scoring on a rebounded corner from Scholl.""The corner we called didn't really work"" Scholl said. So it was just kind of improv.""The goal was Scholl's second of the weekend as she got her first of the season against Virginia.""It's been a very long streak" actually since I've scored" Scholl said. But it's always good to help the team out.""The goose egg on JMU's side of the scoreboard didn't come easy for UNC. Sophomore goalkeeper Jackie Kintzer made seven saves"" including several on JMU penalty corners.""Obviously you don't want corners" Kintzer said.But I'm confident in our defense" and we have the mentality that nothing's going in.""The most impressive stop came shortly before Scholl's goal on a James Madison penalty corner. Kintzer sprawled to stop the initial shot" but after she failed to keep possession JMU's Ashley Walls seemed poised to put the Dukes on top.But that wasn't the case. At the last second" Kintzer's glove got in the way and preserved the scoreless tie.""I saw them rebound it" and I saw (Walls) wide open so I just tried to dive in front of the goal Kintzer said. I figured she'd shoot it" so try to get behind it was really my thought.""And I just tried to lay out and cover as much space as I could"" and she ended up hitting it right in my hand.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/19/08 4:00am)
CHARLOTTESVILLE Va. — It looked easy. Shaun Draughn for seven yards eight yards 18 yards. Line 'em up. Knock 'em down. Ten plays. Eighty-three yards (48 from Draughn). Touchdown Tar Heels.North Carolina 7 Virginia 0.After a Virginia three-and-out the second in as many opportunities the UNC defense had seen the Tar Heels were headed for an ACC rout. Or so it seemed.While UVa.'s offense was sputtering early UNC's seemed unstoppable — even without Brandon Tate.But with the Tar Heels on the verge of penetrating deep into Cavalier territory for the second straight drive it happened.The UVa. 40-yard line bulked up and the Cavalier 3-4 defense in front of it shut UNC down.In the shadow of its own goalpost UNC amassed impressive numbers. Most of Draughn's career-high 138 yards came on that side of midfield.Discounting the first down-field march of the game only 15 of Draughn's yards in regulation came on UVa.'s side of the field. Inside Virginia's 40" Draughn had one carry — a rush for loss.""We as a team just have to capitalize on opportunities"" Draughn said. We had a lot of opportunities. We just didn't capitalize on them.""North Carolina only crossed the UVa. 40-yard-line three times in regulation after that first scoring drive — and only put three points on the board in those chances.""Too many of our drives ended at about fourth and three at about the 40-yard line and having to punt and trying to down it inside the five" UNC coach Butch Davis said. Every time that you don't take advantage of really good field position by capitalizing on it by scoring touchdowns … or putting yourself in position to kick field goals" it'll come back to haunt you. I've seen it way too many times.""He saw it again in Charlottesville. UNC punted five times Saturday. On four occasions UNC's long snapper flung the ball to punter Terrence Brown from the Cavaliers' side of the 50. With place-kicker Casey Barth — who to his credit has been lights out as of late from 45-yards and in — still unproven from long range"" Brown will continue to see that kind of action if the offense keeps stalling.Davis said after the game that just a few more yards can make all the difference in decisions on the sideline.""You're one first down away from potentially being in four-down territory"" Davis said. And four-down territory gives you a chance.""The Tar Heels couldn't earn that chance Saturday" and the Cavaliers did just enough to make them pay.Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/13/08 4:00am)
In a weekend when the No. 4 North Carolina field hockey team dropped its first ACC game of the year the defeat on the field might not have been the biggest loss the Tar Heels suffered.In the 2-0 loss to No. 15 Boston College junior UNC forward Danielle Forword went down with a right knee injury and did not return UNC athletic department spokeswoman Dana Gelin said. She also missed the weekend's second contest against Yale.Gelin said the exact injury has yet to be determined by team doctors who continue to evaluate Forword's knee. An MRI is scheduled for this week.The East London South Africa native leads UNC (10-3 2-1 ACC) in scoring. Her 16 goals are nearly double that of senior Britt van Beek's second-place nine.While discussing the game against Boston College (9-4 1-3 ACC) on Monday UNC coach Karen Shelton drew parallels to the Tar Heels' first loss of the season" a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Iowa.""The games are very similar. I felt like we dominated the first half of play" really had chances to score and gave the game away in the first half. And we allowed our opposition to keep it close Shelton said. We gained some momentum and they got a goal with 30 minutes on the clock. We were doing well and we were getting chances" and then they got another goal. ""That's when we sort of lost our composure. We went away from our game plan and our strategy as a team.""The loss was also the first time North Carolina suffered a shutout loss since Nov. 3"" 2006.Shelton said the opportunities to score were there but her squad for some reason couldn't break through.""We were having problems scoring goals" Shelton said. You're going to get so many chances and when you've got them" you have to take advantage of them.""UNC bounced back Sunday with a 3-1 win against Yale — also played at Boston College. But it didn't come easy.The Bulldogs scored early and took a 1-0 lead to halftime.""It was a long weekend" and we started off the game a little flat" Shelton said. That put our backs against the wall a little bit.""But UNC responded strongly" scoring three second-half goals en route to a 3-1 win.With the loss to Boston College UNC lost its spot atop the ACC standings. The Tar Heels sit half a game behind conference-best Maryland.Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/02/08 4:00am)
The last time North Carolina went to a bowl game only one member of the 2008 Tar Heels saw playing time.Trimane Goddard.Then a freshman cornerback and return specialist Goddard recorded one tackle and tallied 15 return yards in UNC's 37-24 loss to then-Big-East-member Boston College in the Continental Tire Bowl.The losing seasons have mounted since Darian Durant last laced 'em up for the Tar Heels" and the memories of postseason play — though officially in the UNC record books forever — have all but vanished in Chapel Hill""A lot of guys" you know they don't even know that we went to a bowl game in 2004" Goddard said. I try to talk to them about it and tell 'em how fun it was being down there.""And the Robersonville"" N.C. native is ready to have that kind of-fun again — just a little bit more.""You know" we lost. And I tell 'em ‘You want to get back and win"'"" he said. ""Just the experience that you have there in that bowl game"" there's nothing you're going to get in the regular season. That's why in the regular season you got to put it all on the line so that you can get to that point.""In the first year since then in which a bowl game seems plausible"" Goddard's drive to play and win that 13th game has spread throughout the locker room. Free safety Deunta Williams emphasizes the team's desire to win not just a bowl game but every game.""(Losing) is not acceptable anymore" Williams said. Of course we have lost a game" but we can still go undefeated from here on out.""Love of the gameWhile getting back to a bowl is priority No. 1 for Goddard" simply making contributions on the gridiron — especially one as vital as his game-saving interception against Miami on Sept. 27 — is an accomplishment in itself.It seems like every time Goddard is ready to make a name for himself outside of the Triangle a broken foot" a fractured wrist or an emergency appendectomy impedes his progress.But nothing has stopped Goddard this season.""You see people that love this game like that and just give everything that they have" you have nothing but respect for them" Williams said.Often, injuries have a way of diminishing aggressive instincts and making a player hesitate to play at full speed. Goddard hasn't displayed such tendencies.Each time an injury has gotten in Goddard's way, he has come back as strong as ever.It's a blessing just to come back from those injuries and be playing" being a part of this team he said. And how we're playing right now" it's definitely rewarding how this season's going so far.""But it hasn't been through happenstance that No. 31 has continually gotten himself back onto the field.A nearly unmatched work ethic and commitment to North Carolina football have been key to getting Goddard back in uniform.And those attributes have not gone unnoticed.""That always impresses other teammates when they see somebody fight back through injuries and fight back through adversities to come back and have success and play as well as he has"" UNC coach Butch Davis said.Raw ability never hurtsBeyond his dedication to persistently getting back on the field, one aspect of Goddard's game has helped the National Defensive Player of the Week more than most.Natural talent.Coming out of Roanoke High School, Goddard was one of the most highly touted defensive backs in the country, ranked the No. 10 cornerback and the sixth-best player overall in North Carolina by Rivals.On top of that, Goddard — who, like most elite athletes at the 1-A level, played on both sides of the ball in high school — compiled more than 2,700 yards of offense his senior year as a dual-threat quarterback.And despite his injury-riddled career, that talent is as evident as ever. Just ask quarterback Cam Sexton, who, like Goddard, knows a thing or two about fighting back from injuries.Trimane has picked me off probably a thousand times in my Carolina career here. So I knew he had the ability.""
(09/29/08 4:00am)
DURHAM — Hoping to avoid an early-season conference loss the North Carolina field hockey team renewed its rivalry with No. 9 Duke on Saturday.And after 45 minutes it looked as though the Blue Devils (6-3 0-2 ACC) would claim the crucial victory.No. 5 UNC (8-2" 1-0 ACC) trailed for most of the game as Duke scored early and held onto a 1-0 lead for more than 33 minutes.""Duke totally outplayed us in the first half" certainly deserved to be leading the game" coach Karen Shelton said.But when it mattered most, one of UNC's team leaders stepped up.Senior Britt van Beek rebounded a failed penalty corner and rocketed a shot past Duke keeper Ali Comolli to tie the score and relieve the pent-up pressure the Tar Heels had been carrying since Duke's first goal early in the first half.You get that big one when you're down a goal" and you're looking at overtime instead of a loss" Shelton said. It changes our tactics from the sideline.""From that point on"" UNC played more freely. The relaxed style eventually led to the game-winning goal with less than 13 minutes remaining.""(The first goal) was a relief and sort of just like an energy rush" which we needed" junior forward Danielle Forword said. We lifted it straight after that.""The go-ahead score came off a penalty corner — one of five for the Tar Heels on the afternoon — as Forword sent a laser past Comolli from just left of the top of the circle.""It wasn't meant to come to me"" Forword said. I was meant to pass it to (senior Kate) Scholl. It was closed … and I took the shot. It was lucky.""Lucky might be too strong a word. It's no accident that the junior from South Africa leads UNC in scoring for the season with 15 goals.Forword and Shelton both pointed to an adjustment period to explain UNC's scoreless 45 minutes" as the Tar Heels had to get used to Duke's turf" which Forword said seemed to be laid over ""hot rocks.""""You see the ball coming straight for you" and just before you trap it there's a bump" Forword said. You've got to be expecting the mistrap.""As close as the game finished on the scoreboard" a look at the box score points to an even more intensely contested game.To combat UNC's five penalty corners Duke tallied four. The Tar Heels also finished the game with one less shot than the Blue Devils while Duke got one more save from Comolli than UNC's tandem of Brianna O'Donnell and Jackie Kintzer recorded.Sunday the Tar Heels defeated Longwood 3-1 in Longwood Va." completing their first set of back-to-back games in 2008.""We always like the back-to-backs"" Shelton said.It prepares you for the first round and the second round of the NCAA Tournament.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(09/19/08 4:00am)
Haphazardly drop your finger onto a list of all-time NCAA field hockey champions and odds are it will land on North Carolina or Old Dominion.In 27 seasons the two East Coast schools have combined to claim 14 national titles.Tonight the field hockey giants meet at Henry Stadium" renewing a rivalry that regularly produces intensely close contests.""It's a traditional rivalry"" coach Karen Shelton said. It's like when we play Duke. You throw out the record books."" While both schools have gotten off to rough starts — No. 5 North Carolina lost two early-season contests"" and ODU only has one victory to its name — that has not prevented the Tar Heels from taking the Monarchs seriously.""I think that Old Dominion — regardless of their schedule or who they've played" what their results are — they're always well coached very intense and they will give us a very strong fight" Shelton said.The Monarchs started the season as the No. 8 team in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll. But four losses to start the season — albeit all against teams in the top 15 — has the traditional power out of the polls. Don't tell the Tar Heels, though.It's always a huge deal"" senior Britt van Beek said. Everyone gets so pumped to play them.""Van Beek" who suffered three losses in four matches against the Monarchs in her first two seasons" has not let Old Dominion's less-than-stellar start take away her focus.""Last year finally winning against them was such a good feeling"" she said. We really want to beat them.""In preparation for ODU the Tar Heels have been working extensively on penalty corners"" an area that has not been as strong this season as UNC would have liked.""It's an important part of the game"" senior Kate Scholl said. And our percentage wasn't as good as it should be.""But Shelton said there has been much overall improvement in her team this week after two shutout victories this past weekend.""We had two very" very good days of practice" she said. So I'm excited about playing anybody — but especially Old Dominion.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(09/05/08 4:00am)
Less than a week after its first loss since 2006 the North Carolina field hockey team is returning to face an even more formidable opponent.After falling to No. 5 Iowa on Sunday at Wake Forest's Kentner Stadium" the Tar Heels have spent all week preparing to return to Winston-Salem to face No. 3 Wake Forest - a squad that beat Iowa just a day before the Hawkeyes faced the Tar Heels.""I think it's exciting" junior forward Danielle Forword said. I think if anything" (the loss) is going to drive us more because we remember what it felt like."" Forword" who scored five goals in two games last weekend to capture ACC Player of the Week honors" emphasized how ready the Tar Heels are to get back to the Triad.""It's always exciting to play the Deacons" she said. We play very similar styles of hockey" and it's going to be a battle.""North Carolina players are familiar with those battles as the Tar Heels and Deacons often schedule an extra nonconference game with each other in addition to their annual ACC matchup - a tradition that continues this year.With the first contest looming"" UNC coach Karen Shelton said two players in particular have stepped up in practice - senior Britt van Beek and sophomore Katelyn Falgowski.""Britt has been doing a great job of leading the team as our captain" Shelton said. She's not super vocal" but she leads by example.""Falgowski" the more outspoken of the two" participated in her first practices this week after Shelton gave her last week off to recover from the Olympics.""With her experience at the international level" (Falgowski) has been able to speak up and talk about things and encourage people" Shelton said.But no matter how much coaching the team receives from Shelton and Falgowski, it will come down to execution tonight against the undefeated Demon Deacons.And given the rivalry's past, neither team should be surprised to see the match go past 70 minutes. Two of the teams' three matchups last season required extra time, with UNC taking each by one goal.It's a healthy rivalry" Shelton said. I think both teams know each other very well" and I think both teams respect each other very much.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(02/27/08 5:00am)
CARY - Coming off a three-game sweep of Florida Atlantic" the No. 5 North Carolina baseball team was forced to wait an extra hour and a half to begin its home opener.Rainstorms throughout the day caused play to start at 5 p.m.The game was UNC's first at 2008 home USA Baseball National Training Complex while Boshamer Stadium is under construction.And nearly four hours" four errors and seven unearned runs later Old Dominion (2-1) knocked off the Tar Heels 8-6 in 10 innings.The first six innings of the game flew by as both starting pitchers held their own.In fact the only notable occurrence during that span was when UNC ace reliever Rob Wooten was struck in the arm by a foul ball while in the dugout" making him unavailable to pitch in later innings.""I can't even remember the first seven innings"" coach Mike Fox said. All I know is they hadn't scored.""UNC (3-1) entered the eighth inning leading 3-0" but a slew of errors by both teams led to a 5-5 tie after nine innings. In the 10th inning even more mistakes cost the Tar Heels.The top of the 10th saw a couple of Tar Heel miscues - a theme in North Carolina's home opener - including a passed ball on a strikeout that would have ended the game by third baseman-turned-catcher Chad Flack. That play loaded the bases and allowed the inning to continue.Then ODU first baseman Bryan Cipolla - whose ninth-inning solo home run gave Old Dominion its only earned run of the game - stepped up to the plate and knocked the ball deep to left field.It appeared UNC left fielder Kendric Burney would make it to the ball and end the inning but on a rain-slicked turf Burney's cleats failed him.As he slipped on the grass the ball dropped about a foot in fair territory and plated three ODU runners.Those unearned runs proved to be the difference maker for the Monarchs on the evening.The Tar Heels would get the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the 10th but a Seth Williams strikeout ended the rally.With another game Thursday" there's no time for UNC to worry about the loss.""This game is going to be out of our minds by tonight"" junior Tim Federowicz said.Starting Tar Heel pitcher, freshman Matt Harvey, had a solid performance in his first collegiate start, pitching 4.2 innings without allowing a run. He allowed three hits and two walks and struck out an impressive eight Old Dominion batters.But errors cost UNC in the end.Thank goodness it's just the fourth game of the year" Fox said. If they're all like this" I'll be dead by the end of the season.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(02/25/08 5:00am)
After opening its season in Boca Raton Fla." the North Carolina baseball team opens its ""home"" season today - in Cary.The Tar Heels (3-0) host preseason No. 25 Old Dominion (1-1) at the USA Baseball National Training Complex" UNC's temporary home for the 2008 season.The Tar Heels took advantage of FAU's hitter-friendly park smashing 11 home runs in the three games" and swept the three-game series.""It was exciting to get started"" UNC coach Mike Fox said. You never ever know what to expect kind of the first weekend.""Senior Seth Williams and sophomore Dustin Ackley powered the Tar Heel offense in the first game" a 7-1 UNC victory - each hitting two home runs" something Ackley said likely won't happen as frequently in Cary.""When I first started hitting (in Boca Raton)" I didn't expect the ball to fly like it did he said. In Cary where we play" it's going to be fly balls.""The final two games of the series didn't go as easily for North Carolina. In game two" the Owls led 10-6 after four innings but back-to-back three-run innings for UNC put the Tar Heels on top for good.North Carolina again trailed in the series finale this time by three runs after the eighth inning. And the ninth was almost not played. If not for Williams' timely grab for the third out in the bottom of the eighth travel plans would have forced the game to be made official after just eight innings.Tim Federowicz took full advantage of the final frame. He led off the ninth with a home run and spurred a four-run inning giving UNC another one-run win.While the UNC hitters might miss the short left-field porch in Boca Raton" Tar Heel pitchers are welcoming the pitcher-friendly USA Complex.""It's going to be a lot better playing in that park than it was over in Florida"" said UNC senior right-hander Rob Wooten, who gave up two home runs in 5.1 innings against the Owls.Every ball hit in there was outta here.""Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(02/19/08 5:00am)
Just one week after announcing the departure of defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano North Carolina is on the verge of hiring his replacement.Minnesota confirmed Monday evening that its defensive coordinator and former Appalachian State defensive back Everett Withers will leave the Golden Gophers to fill UNC's vacancy.Withers the highest-paid assistant in UM history was with the Golden Gophers for just one year and had a rough time of it" as Minnesota finished last in NCAA Division I Bowl Subdivision last season in total defense.""I want to thank (Minnesota head coach) Tim Brewster for the opportunity he gave me at the University of Minnesota" Withers said in a statement released by UM. Though we were unable to accomplish all of our goals" the past year has been an incredibly positive experience overall.""Before his year at Minnesota" Withers spent five seasons with the NFL's Tennessee Titans.From 2002 to 2004 Tennessee recorded 57 interceptions the franchise's best run for a three-year period since 1993 to 1995.In his last collegiate position before the 2007 season the Charlotte native was the defensive backs coach at Texas from 1998 to 2000. There he worked with former UNC coach Mack Brown" turning a pass defense that ranked 75th in total yards before his arrival to the nation's top secondary unit in his final season.""Everett is one of the brightest defensive minds in all of football" Brewster said in a statement also released by Minnesota.When you hire high-quality individuals they are always going to be in demand. It has always been a dream of Everett's to coach at the University of North Carolina" and it would have been very difficult for him to not pursue this opportunity.""Withers will be looking to build on the progress made by Pagano in 2007" when the Tar Heels finished 35th nationally in total defense up 57 spots from the team's abysmal performance in 2006.Withers' coaching career began at Austin Peay where he served in a variety of positions from 1988 to 1990.After stints with Tulane Southern Mississippi and the NFL's New Orleans Saints he served as Louisville's defensive coordinator from 1995 to 1997.In his second season with the Cardinals his defense was No. 4 in the country in both rushing and total defense while forcing an NCAA-best 41 turnovers.Contact the Sports Editorat sports@unc.edu.
(02/11/08 5:00am)
Months after speculation that Butch Davis might bolt Chapel Hill to become the coach for Arkansas" North Carolina finally saw someone from the football coaching staff jump ship.Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano resigned Monday morning to take a position with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens - the third different National Football League team he will have coached.""I appreciate everything Chuck did to help us improve our defense last season" Tar Heel head coach Butch Davis said in a released statement. He has a great opportunity to return to the NFL" and I wish him the best.""With Pagano at the helm in 2007" UNC's defensive unit showed marked improvement after a 2006 season that saw the Tar Heels ranked 92nd in total defense (368.3 yards allowed per game). This season the Tar Heels improved to 35th (349.8).Pagano's landing in Chapel Hill reunited him with Davis for whom he served as defensive coordinator at Miami from 1995 to 2000 and defensive backs coach with the Cleveland Browns from 2001 to 2004.Pagano's new position in Baltimore will reunite him with former pupils Ray Lewis and Ed Reed whom he coached at Miami.Pagano-led secondaries regularly set the standard in the League. In 2003 Cleveland led the NFL in interceptions with 33 - 28 of which came from Pagano's defensive backs. After Davis' departure from Cleveland in 2004 Pagano sought new employment. And it didn't take long for him to find it as he was named the Oakland Raiders' defensive backs coach where he served from 2005 to 2006.In his final season in Oakland the Raiders allowed an NFL-best 150.8 yards per game through the air.His specific role on the Ravens' staff has not been announced but history suggests that he will be involved with defensive backs.As far as filling the void Pagano left at UNC" Davis said there is no timetable for naming a replacement.""Finding someone who is the right fit with our staff and players is my top priority.""Contact the Sports Editorat sports@unc.edu.