North Carolina
Maryland
Tar Heels Topple No. 3 Terrapins
October 26, 2002 | Field Hockey
Oct. 26, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Sophomore Kelsey Keeran led the way with two goals as the University of North Carolina field hockey team defeated No. 3 Maryland 3-2 Saturday afternoon in the final Atlantic Coast Conference game of the season for both teams. The Tar Heels, tied for ninth in this week's national poll, are now 9-8 on the season, 3-1 in ACC play. Maryland is 13-2, 2-2 in the ACC.
"It was important that we got this win," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "We had faith that we're a strong team and that we're improving, but for us to win against a very good team on their home field is a huge confidence builder."
Keeran's first goal came in the 22nd minute off the rebound of a save by Maryland goalkeeper Kerry Hearsey. The Terrapins tied the score just before halftime when freshman Jackie Ciconte scored on a deflection, assisted by senior Kateri Simon.
UNC took the lead for good in the 47th minute of play when senior Stephanie Fuller tipped in a penalty corner shot by sophomore Laura Douglas. "We've had a drought with our corners, so to get a big goal off of one was great," Shelton said.
Keeran's second goal came in the 50th minute, on an assist by senior Meredith Keller, and put UNC up 3-1. The Terrapins' Izzy Palmer scored on a penalty corner in the 58th minute to draw within a goal, but Maryland was unable to tie the game.
UNC was credited with nine shots, six in the second half, to four by Maryland. The Terrapins got of just one shot in the second half. The Tar Heels had six corners to two by Maryland.
"Kelsey Keeran was the player of the game, but this win was a total team effort," Shelton said. "Everyone played well. To hold Maryland to four shots took a great defensive effort."
Saturday's game was the fifth consecutive UNC-Maryland regular-season matchup decided by a single goal. The previous four all had gone into overtime, with Maryland winning three.
With the win, Carolina wrapped up the No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament, to be played Nov. 7, 8 and 10 at Duke in Durham, N.C. Maryland is the No. 3 seed, so the Tar Heels and Terrapins will play a rematch of Saturday's game in the first semifinal, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m.
UNC has two regular-season games remaining: Nov. 2 at top-ranked Old Dominion and Nov. 3 against 14th-ranked Princeton in Norfolk, Va. Maryland, which has lost two games in a row for the first time since in the 1998 season, returns to action Sunday with a home game against No. 8 James Madison.
N. 9 UNC 3, No. 3 Maryland 2
Scoring:
UNC - Kelsey Keeran, 1st, 21:58
UM - Jackie Ciconte (Kateri Simon), 1st, 30:49
UNC - Stephanie Fuller (Laura Douglas), 2nd, 46:20
UNC - Keeran (Meredith Keller), 2nd, 49:51
UM - Izzy Palmer (Simon, Katrin Rummer), 2nd, 57:31
Shots on goal: UNC 9, UM 4
Goalkeeper saves: UNC (Amy Tran) 1, UM (Kerry Hearsey) 3
Penalty corners: UNC 6, UM 2
UNC starters: Carey Fetting-Smith, Naomi Weatherald, Meredith Keller, Alison Stewart, Kelsey Keeran, Stephanie Fuller, Katy Potter, Amber Chambers, Karen Mann, Laura Douglas, Amy Tran; UNC substitutes: Kerry Falgowski
