field-hockey - The Daily Tar Heel

UNC field hockey celebrates their third consecutive national championship on Sunday, May 9 in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels triumphed over the Michigan Wolverines 4-3.

After short offseason, UNC field hockey looks to continue its dominance

By Kaitlyn Schmidt | Aug. 18, 2021

Only three months after the UNC field hockey team won its third straight national championship, the team is already looking ahead to continue its streak. Junior back Madison Orobono, senior forward Erin Matson and junior midfielder Paityn Wirth are representing Team USA in the Junior Pan American Championships, meaning they will miss the rest of UNC’s preseason and opening weekend. To fill in those gaps, the Tar Heels have welcomed nine new players to the roster.

UNC sophomore forward Isabel Cox (13) drives downfield against FSU junior midfielder Jailen Howell (6) in Sahlen's Stadium in Cary, NC on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. The Seminoles beat the Tar Heels 3-2 to win the ACC Women's Soccer championship.

Column: Women's sports teams dominate UNC athletics, so treat them like it

By Lucas Thomae | Jul. 11, 2021

"The unfortunate truth is that not many self-proclaimed Tar Heel fans paid heed to the world-class athletes who added to UNC's trophy cases this year, for the simple reason that they weren't on the basketball or football teams."

UNC senior forward Giovanni Montesdeoca (10) chases the ball during the semifinals of the College Cup against Marshall at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC on Friday May 14, 2021. The Tar Heels lost 1-0.

Preview: Can UNC's fall sports teams live up to last year's success?

By Lindsey Ware | Jul. 8, 2021

With a national championship and two additional NCAA Tournament semifinals appearances, UNC's fall sports did pretty well for themselves last year. Going into 2021, will these teams live up to the successes of last season?

Karen Shelton, Head Coach of the UNC Field Hockey Team, coaches her players at the game against Wake Forest at the Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill on Friday April 23, 2021. Photo courtesy of UNC Athletic Communications.

Shelton may be the greatest field hockey coach of all time, but she isn't satisfied

By Zachary Crain | Jul. 6, 2021

This time, the coronation took place in Shelton's stadium — with students packed shoulder to shoulder just outside the fences to watch the title game. This time, for the ninth time, Shelton had once again led her team to glory.

DTH Graphic. Photos by Ira Wilder, Angelina Katsanis, Laura Morton and Alex Kormann.

A brief history of UNC's storied athletic programs and their national titles

By Noah Monroe | Jul. 1, 2021

Carolina Athletics is probably best known for its six-time NCAA champion men's basketball team, which has seen iconic moments from Michael Jordan's game-winning shot in the 1982 title game to Chris Webber's ill-fated timeout in 1993. However, the men's basketball and football teams are far from the most decorated sports programs that North Carolina has to offer.

Sara Daavettila (left) and Erin Matson (right) have both won the 2021 Honda Sport Award for their respective sports, tennis and field hockey.

UNC boasts at least two Honda Sport Award winners in Matson and Daavettila

By Lucas Thomae | Jun. 10, 2021

For just the fourth time in the school’s history, North Carolina will be represented by at least two athletes as recipients of the Honda Sport Award. On Thursday, fifth-year senior Sara Daavettila was announced as this year’s recipient of the Honda Sport Award for Tennis, joining fellow Tar Heel Erin Matson, who was named the winner of the field hockey award on June 2.

UNC field hockey won their third consecutive national championship on Sunday, May 9 in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels triumphed over the Michigan Wolverines 4-3.

'Pretty darn special': In Chapel Hill, UNC field hockey wins third-straight NCAA title

By Kaitlyn Schmidt | May. 10, 2021

After a 4-3 overtime win over Michigan in the 2020 NCAA Championship game on Sunday, North Carolina field hockey won the chance to name yet another trophy.

Analysis: The road to UNC field hockey's ninth NCAA Championship

By Lucas Thomae | May. 10, 2021

How did the Tar Heels become such a dominant force in college field hockey? Here’s a comprehensive timeline of the program's history, from its inception to the 2020-21 national championship.

UNC field hockey defeats Michigan in overtime 4-3 to claim third-straight NCAA title

By Kaitlyn Schmidt | May. 10, 2021

The North Carolina field hockey team defeated Michigan 4-3 in overtime to win its third-straight NCAA Championship Sunday evening. It was junior forward Erin Matson who scored the winning goal, netting the ball off a reverse shot during a penalty corner.

Erin Matson runs with the ball at the NCAA Semi-Final against Iowa at the Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill, NC on Friday, May 7, 2021. Photo Courtesy of Jeff Camarati.

First-years help UNC field hockey advance to NCAA Championship with 3-0 win over Iowa

By Kaitlyn Schmidt | May. 9, 2021

The North Carolina field hockey team defeated Iowa 3-0 in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, securing a spot in the title game against Michigan on Sunday. It will be the first National Championship game in Karen Shelton Stadium, where the Tar Heels have been undefeated since its commission in 2018.

Freshman midfielder Kiersten Thomassey handles the ball with ease against Stanford. No. 1 seed Carolina FIeld Hockey defeated the Cardinals in a 2-0 victory, advancing them to the next round of the NCAA D1 Field Hockey Championships.

UNC field hockey opens NCAA Tournament with 2-0 win over Stanford

By Kaitlyn Schmidt | May. 3, 2021

Outshooting Stanford was a priority in the North Carolina field hockey team's opening round of the NCAA Tournament, and the Tar Heels were successful en route to a 2-0 victory.

Junior forward Erin Matson (1) scored the second goal of the ACC Semifinal game against Syracuse. The Tar Heels won 4-3 in overtime on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020.

Erin Matson’s hat trick and assist leads UNC field hockey to 4-3 overtime win over Syracuse

By J Banzet V | Apr. 20, 2021

The No. 1 North Carolina field hockey team (15-1, 9-1 ACC) won its third consecutive overtime game on Sunday afternoon, defeating No. 11 Syracuse (8-8, 4-6 ACC), 4-3.

UNC senior goalkeeper Amanda Hendry (30) stands in the goal as Boston College sophomore forward Margo Carlin (24) attempts to save the ball in Karen Shelton Stadium Nov. 5, 2020. The Tar Heels beat the Eagles 4-0 in the first round of the ACC playoffs, securing head coach Karen Shelton’s 700th win.

UNC field hockey team relaxes with pickleball, prepares for postseason run

By Caroline Prendiville | Apr. 14, 2021

This season has been anything but normal for the No. 1 UNC field hockey team. The team played an almost-full schedule in the fall and is in the midst of its spring season. Due to COVID-19, the ACC was the only conference to hold a fall season, and the Tar Heels came out on top, defeating Louisville in the ACC Championship, 4-2.

Sophomore back Madison Orobono (5) strikes the ball during the game against Virginia on Monday, Oct. 12th, 2020 at Shelton Stadium. UNC won 2-1.

'It was textbook': UNC field hockey secures second consecutive overtime victory over UVA

By Karlie Nielson | Apr. 11, 2021

After beating Duke in double-overtime, the Tar Heels would once again be tested in another hard-fought battle. And for the second straight game, they won the match in overtime, defeating the Virginia Cavaliers, 3-2.

Members of the UNC Field Hockey team celebrate after junior forward Erin Matson (1) scores the second goal of the game against Syracuse. The Tar Heels won the ACC Semifinals with a 4-3 score on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020.

'That's the Carolina way': No. 1 UNC field hockey beats Duke to end season unbeaten at home

By Kaitlyn Schmidt | Apr. 5, 2021

The No. 1 North Carolina field hockey team hosted No. 15 Duke on Senior Day in a challenging double overtime faceoff, notching a win the “Carolina way.”

Erin Matson (1) races Duke player for ball in a game that UNC won 2-0, marking their 33rd consecutive victory.

Preview: These three things can help UNC field hockey beat Duke yet again

By Madi Kirkman | Mar. 31, 2021

The North Carolina women's field hockey team will rival Duke on Friday at 2 p.m. in Karen Shelton Stadium after its last game against Boston College was postponed due to COVID-19 issues. The team will be looking to add another victory to its perfect 2-0 start this spring and overall 12-1 record.

Sara Daavettila serves during her victory over E. Perez-Somarriba of Miami on March 6th, 2021.

Analysis: How each of UNC's No. 1 teams got where they are

By Kelly Baker | Mar. 23, 2021

UNC currently has five different teams ranked No. 1 in the country. This is how those teams have maintained their momentum to reach that top spot.

UNC redshirt junior forward Meredith Sholder (2) drives downfield in Karen Shelton Stadium Nov. 5, 2020. The Tar Heels beat the Eagles 4-0 in the first round of the ACC playoffs, securing head coach Karen Shelton’s 700th win.

'Chance to keep playing': UNC fall sports adjust to playing in the spring

By Noah Monroe | Mar. 14, 2021

As a result of the pandemic, four UNC sports — men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey and volleyball — are playing both a fall and spring season. The move means being able to play more competitive games in a year and staying in game shape, instead of just playing in the fall and practicing the rest of the year.

Two goals from Erin Matson propel UNC field hockey to 2-0 win over Wake Forest

By Madi Kirkman | Mar. 13, 2021

Two first quarter goals from junior forward Erin Matson lifted the North Carolina field hockey team (12-1, 4-1 ACC) to a 2-0 win over Wake Forest (4-9, 1-1 ACC) in the second game of the spring season.

Redshirt junior forward Meredith Sholder looks for a pass during the game against Louisville at Karen Shelton Stadium on Friday, March 5, 2021. Photo courtesy of Jeff Camarati/UNC Athletics.

UNC field hockey uses all opportunities in 2-0 spring-opening win over Louisville

By Rithvik Chelasani | Mar. 7, 2021

Sports so often come down to opportunity — which team gets the most opportunities, and which team takes the biggest advantage of its opportunities. It was those opportunities that defined the UNC field hockey team's spring-opening 2-0 win over Louisville on Friday.

Field Hockey