Bozek, Notman Lead Tar Heels In Big Day Against VCU

Sunday, October 12

Chapel Hill, N.C.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

VCU

October 12, 2014 | Field Hockey

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Juniors Emma Bozek and Nina Notman had stellar afternoons Sunday as the top-ranked North Carolina field hockey team beat visiting VCU 8-1 at Francis E. Henry Stadium. On a cool, rainy day in Chapel Hill, Bozek finished with a career-high five assists and one goal while Notman had her first hat trick in a UNC uniform. "To see that kind of production from those two players is great," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "I've seen it in practice, but it's wonderful to see it in a game, too. Today was a really nice way for us to wrap up a tough stretch of games - we got production out of a lot of people and got playing time for a lot of people."

UNC improved to 11-2 on the season with its third win in a four-day span. The Tar Heels return to action on Friday evening at No. 9 Duke for a top-10 ACC matchup.

"This stretch of games has been good practice for the ACC Tournament," Shelton said. "We need to be prepared to play, recover and turn right around and play again, and the last few days will help us with that. It's been busy, but I'm pleased to come out with three wins."

On Thursday, UNC won 2-1 in overtime at Wake Forest. The Tar Heels then earned a 7-0 win at Longwood on Friday. But they certainly didn't look worn out on Sunday, when they equaled their previous season high for goals in just 35 minutes of play.

Notman kicked off the scoring in the 13th minute on a penalty corner, UNC's third of the game. Bozek and junior Emily Wold assisted on the goal.

Just over two minutes later, junior Casey Di Nardo took a pass from Bozek and shot from the left side of the cage to make the score 2-0. The next goal was by sophomore Lauren Moyer, who scored her first of the season in the 25th minute, again on a pass from Bozek.

Next it was Bozek scoring herself on a possession that displayed teamwork and deft passing. The Tar Heels worked the ball in until they were were able to come up with a shot, and after a defender tried to clear the ball away from the cage, Bozek grabbed it and shot again for her fifth goal of the season.

In the 30th minute, freshman Gab Major took a pass from sophomore Rachel Black from the right baseline and scored to make it 5-0 Tar Heels. The goal was Major's fifth and the assist was Black's second.

Just 29 seconds later, Bozek found redshirt freshman Sam Night in front of the cage and Night got a shot off amidst a crowd to make the score 6-0. Less than a minute before halftime, Notman scored on another penalty corner, again assisted by Bozek and Wold, to make it 7-0 at the break.

Heading into Sunday's game, UNC's largest scoring output of the season was seven goals in Friday's game at Longwood. But Notman added one more to establish a new season high. In the 38th minute, she took a pass from Di Nardo and shot from the top of the circle for a 7-0 lead. Notman led UNC last season with 15 goals and five times she had two goals in a game, but she had never had three prior to Sunday.

In the 55th minute of play, VCU scored on its only penalty corner and shot of the day to make it 7-1. Senior Kendell Combs had the goal, assisted by freshman Spencer Tossone and senior Nicole Barry.

UNC finished with 26 shots, equal to the team's season high. The Tar Heels had eight corners, all in the first half.

After road games at Duke on Friday and Liberty next Sunday, Carolina returns home for its last two regular-season contests at Henry Stadium. The Tar Heels host Wake Forest on Oct. 25 and Pacific on Oct. 26.

No. 1 UNC 8, VCU 1

Scoring: UNC - Nina Notman (Emily Wold, Emma Bozek), 12:49; UNC - Casey Di Nardo (Bozek), 15:01; UNC - Lauren Moyer (Bozek), 24:55; UNC - Bozek, 26:58; UNC - Gab Major (Rachel Black), 29:42; UNC - Notman (Bozek, Wold), 34:07; UNC - Notman (Di Nardo), 37:32; VCU - Kendell Combs (Spencer Tossone, Nicole Barry)

Shots: UNC 26 (23/3); VCU 1 (0/1)

Penalty corners: UNC 8 (8/0); VCU 1 (0/1)

Goalkeeper saves: UNC 0 (Shannon Johnson, 70:00, 0 saves, 1 goal allowed); VCU 9 (Kendall Clifton, 70:00, 9 saves, 8 goals allowed)

Defensive saves: VCU 1 (Nicole Barry)

Records: UNC 11-2, VCU 2-10

UNC starters: Shannon Johnson, Loren Shealy, Kristy Bernatchez, Samantha Travers, Emily Wold, Nina Notman, Emma Bozek, Julia Young, Lauren Moyer, Casey Di Nardo, Abby Frey