Craddock's Gamewinner Gives UNC Overtime Win At Wake

Thursday, October 9

Winston-Salem, N.C.

5:00 PM

North Carolina

Wake Forest

October 9, 2014 | Field Hockey

By: UNC Athletic Communications

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Senior forward Charlotte Craddock scored her second goal of the game and 11th of the season in the 81st minute of play Thursday to give the top-ranked North Carolina field hockey team a 2-1 win over No. 17 Wake Forest at Kentner Stadium. It marked the second time this season that UNC has gone into overtime and both times Craddock has broken the tie.

"I'm very proud of the Tar Heels," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "I really thought we played some of our best hockey of the year in the first half. We possessed the ball and we moved it unselfishly. We love the passing game, but we only got a one-goal lead out of it. We knew it was going to be a battle in the second half. Credit Wake Forest for coming back and forcing overtime.

"Anything can happen in overtime. They had some chances and we did as well. I'm proud of Charlotte Craddock. She continues to be a special player for us and showed a lot of great composure there at the very end to get her stick on the ball and get around the keeper and another recovering player for the goal."

The Tar Heels scored first, in the 20th minute of play and on their first shot of the game. Craddock got the ball to the right of the goal and sent it in, where it bounced off of a Wake Forest player and into the cage to put UNC up 1-0. That lead held up until the 62nd minute, when Wake Forest tied the score on a penalty corner goal. Georgia Holland had the shot, with Emily Conroe and Shannon Eby providing assists.

Craddock's gamewinner came after a pass from senior captain Samantha Travers. Craddock got the ball and drove into the circle with the ball and got around Wake keeper Valerie Dahmen as well as a defender to put the ball in from the right side.

Even though the two are Atlantic Coast Conference rivals, Thursday's game doesn't count toward the league standings. Wake Forest and UNC will meet again in Chapel Hill on Oct. 25 for the season's designated ACC matchup.

UNC returns to action on Friday with another road game, this one at Longwood at 5 p.m. The Tar Heels host VCU at Henry Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m.

No. 1 UNC 2, No. 17 Wake Forest 1, OT

Scoring: UNC - Charlotte Craddock, 19:09; WFU - Georgia Holland (Emily Conroe, Shannon Eby), 61:45; UNC - Craddock, 80:49

Shots: UNC 9 (2/4/3), WFU 7 (2/4/1)

Penalty corners: UNC 3 (0/1/2), WFU 4 (0/4/0

Goalkeeper saves: UNC 3 (Sassi Ammer, 80:49, 3 saves, 1 goal allowed); WFU 4 (Valerie Dahmen, 80:49, 4 saves, 2 goals allowed)

Records: UNC 9-2, Wake Forest 8-5