University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
Tar Heels Finish Unbeaten ACC Season With Win Over Maryland
October 22, 2011 | Field Hockey
Oct. 22, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The second-ranked North Carolina field hockey team beat No. 3 Maryland 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Francis E. Henry Stadium to finish Atlantic Coast Conference play undefeated and claim the top seed in the upcoming ACC tournament. The regular-season conference championship is the first since 2007 for UNC (16-1, 5-0 ACC). The Terrapins finish ACC play 4-1 and are 13-3 overall.
Carolina took the lead for good in the eighth minute of play on a goal by junior Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany, who tipped in junior Caitlin Van Sickle's shot on a penalty corner. The second UNC goal came in the 50th minute. Junior Kelsey Kolojejchick's shot was saved by Maryland keeper Melissa Vassalotti, but the Tar Heel gathered the rebound and lofted a shot over Vassalotti and into the goal to put UNC up 2-0.
Maryland's goal came on a penalty corner with no time remaining on the clock and UNC on the cusp of its 12th shutout of the season. The Terrapins drew their sixth corner of the game, all of which came in the second half, and Harriet Tibble sent a ball to Jemma Buckley, who had five of Maryland's eight shots on the day. Buckley's goal was her 14th of the season.
Carolina held Maryland without a shot for the first half of play. The Terrapins' first shot of the afternoon came on a penalty corner with 30:30 remaining in the game, but UM went on to outshoot UNC 8-6 in the second period.
Maryland came close to scoring with 21:50 remaining in the second half, when UNC keeper Sassi Ammer came out of the goal to play the ball and UM's Maxine Fluharty sent a shot toward the right side of the cage. But senior Meghan Dawson stepped up to make the defensive save, her first of the season, and keep Maryland scoreless. "That was big," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "When your goalie gets pulled out, you need somebody to get in behind and cover. That's what experienced players do. So kudos to Meghan for making a big play at a critical time. "
Maryland did not have a first-half corner, but drew six in the second half. Carolina finished with six for the game, with four of those coming in the first half.
"As big as the win was, the way we finished the game was disappointing.," Shelton said. "I hope we will look at the message that the last 16 minutes sent to our team to make us better for the postseason."
UNC is back in action on Sunday, hosting No. 7 Michigan (12-3) for a 1 p.m. game. It is the final home game of the regular season and Carolina will celebrate Senior Day prior to the start of the game. The Tar Heels have five seniors - Teryn Brill, Meghan Dawson, Katelyn Falgowski, Taryn Gjurich and Elizabeth Stephens - on this year's roster, and all but Falgowski will be recognized in a pregame ceremony. Falgowski is in Mexico, competing at the Pan American games as part of the U.S. National Team. She will rejoin the team for the final game of the regular season, on Oct. 30 at Old Dominion.
No. 2 North Carolina 2, No. 3 Maryland 1
Scoring: Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany (Caitlin Van Sickle), 7:32; UNC - Kelsey Kolojejchick, 49:27; UM - Jemma Buckley (Harriet Tibble), 70:00
Shots: UNC 11 (5/6), UM 8 (0/8)
Penalty corners: UNC 6 (4/2), UM 6 (0/6)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 2 (Sassi Ammer, 70:00, 1 goal allowed, 2 saves); UM 4 (Melissa Vassalotti, 70:00, 2 goals allowed, 4 saves)
Defensive saves: UNC 1 (Meghan Dawson)
Records: UNC 16-1 (5-0 ACC), UM 13-3 (4-1 ACC)
UNC starters: Sassi Ammer, Teryn Brill, Loren Shealy, Taryn Gjurich, Katie Ardrey, Kelsey Kolojejchick, Elizabeth Stephens, Caitlin Van Sickle, Meghan Dawson, Marta Malmberg, Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany
UNC substitutes: Samantha Travers, Katie Plyler, Abby Frey, Sophie Rudolph, Sinead Loughran
