University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Radford
No. 3 Tar Heels Shut Out Radford
September 25, 2005 | Field Hockey
Sept. 25, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The third-ranked North Carolina field hockey team earned its seventh shutout of the season and improved to 8-1 overall with a 4-0 win against unranked Radford (5-4) Sunday afternoon at Francis E. Henry Stadium. Four different players scored for UNC in the nonconference win, which came on the heels of the team's first loss of the season.
The Tar Heels fell 2-1 to Duke at home Friday night in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener, and Sunday's game was a welcome opportunity to get back on the field. Carolina scored two goals in the first half and two in the second while limiting the Highlanders to four shots.
"I feel like our team is improving," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "We scrimmaged Radford in the preseason and they had more opportunities than they did today, so I'm pleased that we continue to develop."
Senior captain Naomi Weatherald scored the only goal UNC would need on a penalty corner 19:18 into the game. Her direct shot was assisted by sophomores Heather Kendell and Xan Funk.
Just over two minutes later, freshman Britt van Beek sent a ball toward the goal from the right side and classmate Kate Scholl shot it past Radford goalkeeper Amy Dietz for Scholl's second goal of the season.
Less than a minute into the second half, van Beek scored one of her own, grabbing a rebound off pads of the Radford keeper and sending it back into the goal. The final goal was scored by Tar Heel sophomore Liz Morris, who made the tally 4-0 with an unassisted shot in the 55th minute of play.
Carolina goalkeepers Katy Tran and Marie Bounds shared the shutout, with Tran playing the first 63 minutes and Bounds finishing off the game and making the only UNC save.
UNC drew a season-high 14 penalty corners, but Weatherald's goal was the only payoff. "Our penalty corner execution could have been better," Shelton said. "We did have one called back after a mental error, but two out of 14 still isn't good enough."
The game was the last for which UNC will be without starters Laree Beans and Rachel Dawson, who have been representing the U.S. at the Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile. The competition ends Sunday and, after three games away, the two will be back in the lineup for the Tar Heels' next action, on Saturday at No. 1 Wake Forest. "We'll be excited to welcome them back," Shelton said. "What I like is the fact that the individuals that gained more playing time while Rachel and Laree were gone have become stronger players, and that has made us a stronger team."
No. 3 North Carolina 4, Radford 0
Scoring: UNC - Naomi Weatherald (Heather Kendell, Xan Funk), 19:18; UNC - Kate Scholl (Britt van Beek), 21:27: UNC - Van Beek, 35:50; UNC - Liz Morris, 54:22
Shots: UNC 18, Radford 4
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 1 (Katy Tran 0, Marie Bounds 1), Radford 6 (Amy Dietz)
Defensive saves: UNC 0, Radford 1 (Kiera Gambeski)
Penalty corners: UNC 14, Radford 2
Records: UNC 8-1, Radford 5-4
