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(11/12/07 5:00am)
It's two down with two more to go in North Carolina's hunt for an NCAA championship.
By blanking both opponents this weekend, the UNC field hockey team matched and surpassed the school record for shutouts in a season with 15 and are headed to College Park, Md.
The undefeated Tar Heels advanced to the final four of the NCAA Tournament with a win against No. 7 James Madison 1-0 on Sunday after a 4-0 victory against Stanford on Saturday.
"I told these guys with the proud tradition and the history of our program, it's not easy to set a record like that," coach Karen Shelton said.
But for much of the second game, the Tar Heels (22-0) were experiencing a shutout as well. Despite a large advantage in shots and penalty corners, the scoreboard refused to budge from 0-0.
That kind of deadlock has happened before, as in the team's previous meeting with JMU (19-4) on Sept. 2, when UNC didn't score until the 48th minute. But as the minutes ticked by, the situation in the players' minds become more and more grave, senior Rachel Dawson said.
"One thing we haven't done most of the year is get panicked, but I do think as far as between (Laree Beans) and I, we did get a little panicked in there," Dawson said. "The what ifs go through your head.
"It was an emotional game, really chaotic and pretty stressful."
A series of uncharacteristic miscues in the second half only added to the tension. UNC's normally well-oiled offensive machine was whiffing on shots, losing the ball out of bounds and mishandling penalty corners. Even Dawson, who Shelton has called the team's "field general," had an off day.
But with 8:46 to go in the game, the right opportunity finally came.
"(Danielle Forword) was in the circle, and I saw her running open, and there was one girl between us, and she just kept backing up so I was like 'If I get to the circle, just rip the shot,'" Britt van Beek said.
That shot from the left side ended up inside the goal, and the Tar Heels' longest scoreless tie of the season was over with UNC up 1-0.
That advantage was all North Carolina needed, and while JMU's players fought desperately to keep their season from ending, the game had been decided.
"I don't think there was any advantage one way or another," Dawson said. "You play a lot of times on adrenaline, and they totally played on adrenaline."
On Saturday, the Tar Heels handily defeated first-round opponent Stanford 4-0. Goals came early and often, with all four in the first 30 minutes off of 17 shots in the half.
The Cardinals (13-8) had a chance to get back in the game just before halftime with a penalty stroke, but goalkeeper Brianna O'Donnell caught the shot from Stanford's Hillary Braun between her legs and kept the shutout alive.
The save on the penalty stroke - O'Donnell's first such trial this year - kept the Tar Heels in the driver's seat and gave the team an opportunity to rest its starters in the second half.
"If it had scored that would have been four to one," Shelton said Saturday. "That changes the complexion of the game a little bit, so her save was huge, and so I was proud of her for that."
UNC takes on No. 4 Connecticut on Friday, with the winner playing for the NCAA title.
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/22/07 4:00am)
The No. 2 team in the country never knew what hit them. After furiously scrambling for 70 minutes to find an offense, the Maryland Terrapins walked out of Henry Stadium with no goals, no penalty corners and no shots. They had nothing in the box score to show for their effort, except their first loss of the season.
In its most important matchup so far this year, North Carolina's defense proved its worth again. Except for a 10-minute stretch in the second half, the game was played almost exclusively on Maryland's defensive half of the field.
"We definitely thought that they would be more attacking, have more shots," UNC goalkeeper Brianna O'Donnell said. "I thought I would be tested, but clearly it was a lonely day in the cage."
Keep in mind that this was from a Maryland offense that came in putting up 4.125 goals and 20.5 shots per game, and had never gone into halftime without scoring a goal this season. The Terrapins' offense also featured NCAA leading scorer Katie O'Donnell - she and Brianna O'Donnell are cousins - who averaged more than a goal per game by herself.
"We really focused on nullifying her as much as we could. We knew that she was a huge threat," senior defender Rachel Dawson said. "She's a great player. She was quick, quicker and more skillful than anyone we've met this season."
Katie O'Donnell and the rest of the Maryland offense often rely on fast breaks for scoring opportunities, so there was the constant threat that one positioning mistake could lead to a one-on-one with the best goal scorer in the country. But the Tar Heels rose to the challenge, and backs Dawson, Melanie Brill, Riley Foster and Xan Funk never gave Katie O'Donnell a wide-open opportunity.
"I thought the back four, our back four, did a fantastic job of just controlling them, being disciplined to constantly reposition and to never fall asleep on Katie," coach Karen Shelton said. "We didn't fall asleep once in 70 minutes."
The key to controlling Katie O'Donnell was a slight variation of UNC's normal zone defense that was implemented in practice before the game. In order to manage the fast break, the defenders kept a careful eye on Maryland's attackers even when the ball was deep inside Maryland territory.
"Our plan was to always play with a cover - to always have an extra person back," UNC senior Jesse Gey said.
And even when Katie O'Donnell managed to streak with the ball past three or more Tar Heel defenders, the last one was always there knock it harmlessly aside.
"I think it really worked because I think she got a little frustrated," Dawson said.
The defensive structure UNC used will go right back into Shelton's playbook, since this may not be the last time the Tar Heels square off with Katie O'Donnell and the Terrapins. The teams could easily meet in the ACC and NCAA tournaments, so perhaps cousins Katie and Brianna will get a one-on-one shot this season, after all.
"We've had a school rivalry since I was a sophomore and she was a freshman, she played (at a) neighboring high school," Brianna O'Donnell said. "We've played with each other, against each other and it's always a fun matchup."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/22/07 4:00am)
Also read "Defense turns away Terps" for more field hockey coverage.
It was a Saturday showdown between the most dominating field hockey teams in the country. No. 1 and No. 2, two squads that were a combined 32-0 and had outscored their opponents 143-21 this season, were facing off at Henry Stadium.
But after the game, there was no question who was superior in the teams' only matchup of the regular season.
(09/24/07 4:00am)
In a game which even coach Karen Shelton said the North Carolina field hockey team didn't play its best, the depth of the bench gave the team the edge and the production it needed.
And while some teams rely on a star player or a senior-laden lineup, UNC's success against Duke on Saturday came from effort by the entire team.
"I want my kids to keep running the opposition," Shelton said. "That's part of our tactic is to put relentless pressure, just keep throwing bodies on them and fresh legs, and that's what we're going to continue to do all year long."
With temperatures rising to 91 degrees, UNC planned to wear down the Blue Devils by equaling their aggressive play with sheer numbers and fresh legs from the sideline.
But the elevated temperatures at Henry Stadium threw off the game plan in the first half, when neither team could establish superiority. It was only after a Duke timeout early in the second half that the Tar Heel offense really started to click.
"Today it was a little hot. I think we were all a little maybe one step slower than we're used to, so that gave us a little quick breather, and we were able to get out there and step up and work hard," senior Jesse Gey said.
UNC scored two goals in the five minutes following that timeout. Thanks to solid production from their reserves, the Tar Heels had firm control for the rest of the day.
Five of the team's 11 shots on goal and two of the team's five scores came from the bench, compared to just one shot on goal from Duke's bench.
UNC's ability to keep its energy up has been paying off, especially in the seven games since the overtime match with Wake Forest on Aug. 31. During that stretch, 25 of the team's 39 goals have come in the second half after the opponent has been sufficiently worn down.
It's no surprise that the Tar Heels have used more players than their opponent in every game this season.
"You can see we can play those numbers, and the level of play really doesn't diminish," Shelton said. "It's the first time in my career as the coach here at Carolina that I've had this kind of depth, and we're going to use it to our advantage every chance that we get."
Shelton's team is undefeated, ranked No. 1 in the country and coming off of its fifth-straight shutout, but don't expect her squad to lose sight of what has gotten them this far.
"We're just going to stay humble, stay hardworking, stay focused and keep trying to get better," the coach said after Saturday's game.
Contact the Sports Editor
at sports@unc.edu.
(09/17/07 4:00am)
North Carolina rose to No. 1 in the STX/NFHCA coaches poll last week and promptly validated its new ranking with its second and third shutout victories of the season.
Old Dominion and Penn State, which are both ranked in the top 13, were unable to compete with the Tar Heels' suffocating defense. Goalkeeper Brianna O'Donnell faced only one shot the entire weekend, which came early in the first half of Friday's 3-0 victory against ODU.
On Sunday against No. 7 Penn State, UNC (8-0) won 6-0, while effectively allowing no offense from the Nittany Lions.
"I think that the pressure on the ball really opened up some opportunities and we were really able to wear them down because they didn't get out of the backfield much," senior Jesse Gey said Friday.
Gey scored the first goal of both games and now has six on the season.
Friday's match against No. 13 Old Dominion was delayed for two hours because of lightning, and the rain continued sporadically throughout the evening. The Lady Monarchs, however, were more concerned with weathering the flurry of shots (25) and penalty corners (11) from UNC's attackers.
ODU's goalkeeper Kelly Driscoll contributed 13 saves during the game and gave her team a chance, as the score was still tied 0-0 at halftime. But the offensive pressure didn't let up in the second half, and UNC got goals from Gey, Elizabeth Drazdowski and Danielle Forword to finish the game.
Meanwhile, the entire Tar Heel lineup was active in trying to cut off every pass to deny ODU any offense. Gey said after Friday's game that pressure from UNC's forwards was a focus for the weekend.
"We need to be so disciplined that they're aware of what we're doing, even though we're attacking so much," senior Rachel Dawson said. "If they slip one through us and score a goal, that could be a game winner."
UNC's defensive attitude was the same on Sunday, when the Tar Heels completely dismantled Penn State's offense.
"I think the box score looks beautiful," coach Karen Shelton said after the game. The Tar Heels had to defend against five penalty corners but gave up no goals and no shots.
Of course, every steal on defense leads to an opportunity on offense, and Dawson in particular was quick to capitalize on those chances.
All three of Dawson's goals came on penalty corners, a welcome contrast to earlier games when the Tar Heels had difficulty converting those opportunities.
Against James Madison on Sept. 2, UNC racked up 21 penalty corners but scored on only one.
"Our execution was just spot on from the push-out," Dawson said. "It just set it up perfectly for me so my job was easy. We're just still fine tuning."
The Tar Heels will continue their undefeated season Thursday against Appalachian State at 7 p.m. and face off against Duke at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Both games will be at Henry Stadium.
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(08/29/07 4:00am)
As juniors, Sara Anundsen and Jenna Long made it further in the NCAA tournament than any North Carolina women's doubles team had before. This spring, as seniors, they won the tournament outright. Next up? The U.S. Open.
The tennis duo, who graduated in May, received a wildcard bid from the United States Tennis Association to make it into the 64-team field and will play their first round match on Thursday. No UNC women's tennis player has played in the U.S. Open before.
"It's just an unbelievable accomplishment for them to be able to play in the main draw of the U.S. Open," Tar Heel coach Brian Kalbas said. "Very few people have the opportunity to do that." He called the bid "unprecedented."
The appearance in a tournament featuring professional players might be a surprise, but the duo's success in college was no accident.
"They've been able to mold their personalities and their styles to form a really good team," Kalbas said. "In doubles that's what it's all about."
Anundsen and Long have been playing together since they were freshmen. In 2006, they reached the NCAA semifinals only to lose to a Fresno State team they had beaten earlier that same season.
"I remember after that match being so down because we were so close, and we knew we could do it," Anundsen said.
She used her disappointment to push herself harder this year, though Anundsen admitted that she didn't know how far it would take them.
"I really wasn't thinking about playing in the U.S. Open, but winning the NCAAs was definitely a goal."
Both players have plans laid out for their tennis futures. Anundsen will be coaching this year, having accepted an assistant position at Princeton.
Long intends to play professionally and won a pro doubles tournament earlier this summer.
"I think she has so much more room to grow as a player, and she's really committed and dedicated," Kalbas said of Long's potential.
But for now, the only goal that's on their minds is the one Anundsen and Long share with 63 other pairs of tennis athletes.
The Tar Heel tandem will meet Klaudia Jans and Alicja Rosolska in the first round on Thursday.
The international format of the U.S. Open created a slightly unfamiliar obstacle when the pair began to prepare themselves for their match.
Jans and Rosolska both hail from Poland.
"We actually don't know anything about our opponents. We've never heard of them, never seen them play," Anundsen said. "I think we're just kind of going in there with no expectations."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(04/16/07 4:00am)
The North Carolina women's lacrosse team had to cancel a free halftime clinic for fans Sunday because of stormy weather.
But those who stuck around to watch the rain-delayed game against Longwood got to see an offensive clinic anyway, as the Tar Heels set several school records en route to winning by a score of 24-2.
The match set new school marks for goals scored, total points (37) and largest margin of victory (22). The previous record for goals was established against University of Maryland-Baltimore County in 2004, when UNC won 23-5.
Solidly in control from the opening draw, North Carolina (13-2) was up 3-0 before Longwood (3-10) even put up a shot and led 16-0 at halftime. Altogether the Tar Heels outshot the Lancers 45-7 and had 15 different players score.
"Fifteen kids scoring 24 goals is awesome, it's really awesome," UNC coach Jenny Levy said. "There's not many teams in the country that can do that, but it's something we do all year."
The scoring was remarkably balanced, with only two players, Lindsay Higgins and Melissa McCarthy, scoring more than two goals. Much of the production came from the bench, as the majority of the North Carolina starters didn't play in the second half.
"Coming off a loss over Easter weekend, we knew we had to be a little more physical, more clear with what we were doing, and not just the people who are typically on the field a lot more than others, but everybody," said McCarthy, who had a hat trick in the game.
UNC's defense might not have been as spectacular as its offense, but was equally effective. The starters forced 13 turnovers in the first half while losing only two of their own, leaving Longwood's attack dumbfounded.
Given the team's depth, it only seems appropriate that North Carolina's final goal to set the record came from backup defender Britta Williams.
"Everyone on our team is capable of scoring," Williams said. The goal was the first of her career and came with only 1:59 left in the game.
"My teammate looked at me, and she gave me the ball and just told me to go," the junior said.
"When you get that chance you go hard, and you go hard 100 percent."
There isn't much time to celebrate, though, as the regular season wraps up Friday at Duke in a game that will be pivotal for seedings in the ACC tournament.
"I think the records are pretty cool, but we're just happy we had a solid win, and we're looking forward to Friday," McCarthy said.
UNC and Duke are in a three-way tie for first place in the conference with Maryland, but only the top two seeds will get a first-round bye.
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(03/26/07 4:00am)
Senior night for the North Carolina gymnastics team was everything the team could have asked for: a supportive crowd, a solid score to help qualify for the NCAA Championships and a victory against four other schools.
But to find out what UNC is most proud of, you would have had to look away from the podium and the scoreboards to a handmade banner hanging against the back wall of Carmichael Auditorium.
On the sign, among a few pictures of the team read the words "Senior Night '07 - All about the FUNNESS!"
Senior Christine Robella coined the term last year while trying to motivate the Tar Heels, and the name stuck.
"I said something about, 'They don't know the kind of funness that we have!' We have a great time, we just have a lot of fun," she said.
Courtney Turco, another senior, called 'funness' the "team joke or team mantra."
"It's basically just for focusing, like not getting too serious with yourself at meets and really to just keep it in perspective why we're doing this."
There was plenty to be happy about in the team's objective performance as well Friday, as UNC's score of 194.300 was enough to defeat Towson at 193.500, George Washington at 193.225, Rhode Island at 190.725 and William & Mary at 189.225.
In what Coach Derek Galvin called "her best meet of the year so far," Robella took first place in three events and won the all-around competition with an impressive score of 39.425. In the vault event Robella tied for second with UNC freshman Kara Wright, as the top spot was taken by another Tar Heel - Christine Nguyen.
Nguyen had, perhaps by her own standards, a subpar performance after she fell on balance beam and finished 19th. She had never failed to finish first or tied for first this season in that event before Friday.
The only other significant blemish was a number of gymnasts who struggled on the floor exercise. Galvin said the floor was unusually bouncy, which threw some Tar Heels off guard.
"It's springier than any floor we've competed on this year," the coach said. "Falls were because of too much power."
Rachel Schneider and Nguyen both fell on the event, with Wright also recording a penalty for stepping out of bounds. But Galvin said he wasn't too concerned.
"I'd rather see them have too much than not enough and fall backwards," he said. "It wasn't our best team performance in terms of execution of gymnastics, but in terms of emotion and energy and team spirit, it was great.
"It was a great meet, and I'm just really happy for our seniors."
It would have been easy to get discouraged coming into this competition. UNC had lost three matches in a row on the road, with the last two coming by less than a point.
But with conference championships this week and the NCAA Championships in the weeks after that, the team doesn't have time to dwell on what it might have done differently.
"Funness" aside, Robella knows exactly what the focus is on now.
"I just want to get this team to nationals. All of the seniors want to take this team to nationals. And I think we have a good shot, we just have to get everybody on the same page and at the right time and it can happen."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(01/23/07 5:00am)
The UNC gymnastics team edged out a narrow victory at the George Washington Invitational on Sunday to stay undefeated.
Its total of 190.650 was just enough to top the 190.000 score of second place George Washington at the four-school meet.
Christine Nguyen, part of a group of five talented newcomers competing for UNC this year, won both the beam and uneven bars events.
Although featuring a much less experienced lineup, it's hard to pick out a drop-off in this team's performance compared to years past.
(01/17/07 5:00am)
Johns Hopkins himself didn't suffer many losses as a successful businessman in Baltimore, but his namesake school was no match for North Carolina's men's and women's swimming and diving teams Tuesday afternoon.
The Tar Heel women took first in each event on their way to a 171-96 win.
UNC's men similarly dominated, winning all but two events and claiming a 170-109 victory.
Although the Tar Heels had an easy time, coach Frank Comfort would not give up JHU as a rival.