Tar Heels Fall 4-2 At No. 3 Syracuse

Saturday, September 12

Syracuse, N.Y.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

(4-1, 0-1ACC)

At Syracuse

(5-0, 1-0ACC)

North Carolina

Syracuse

September 12, 2015 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In a battle of unbeaten teams and the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both, the second-ranked North Carolina field hockey team led 2-0 at halftime but fell 4-2 Saturday afternoon to No. 3 Syracuse at the Orange's J.S. Coyne Stadium. Syracuse improved to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in ACC play with the win, while the Tar Heels fell to 4-1, 0-1 ACC.

After reaching Syracuse about 12 hours before gametime due to flight delays, the Tar Heels left town right after the game, headed for Albany. UNC will face the No. 7 Albany Great Danes there on Sunday before returning to Chapel Hill.

On Saturday, a pair of seniors scored in the first half to give Carolina an early lead. In the 13th minute of play, Nina Notman put UNC on the board on a penalty corner goal, her second of the season. In the 32nd minute, Emily Wold scored on a second effort to put UNC up 2-0.

UNC outshot the host Orange 6-1 in the first half and had three corners to SU's one.

In the second half, Syracuse stormed back. The Orange scored on a penalty corner in the 46th minute, then added another in the 58th to tie the score. In the 67th minute, Emma Russell scored on a breakaway to give Syracuse the lead. After that, UNC coach Karen Shelton pulled her goalkeeper, Shannon Johnson, in favor of an extra field player. The Orange took advantage of the open goal and scored another in the 68th minute.

“It was a great game, two really good teams going at it,” Shelton said. “Syracuse is very, very tough to play on their home field. I was extreme encouraged by our team – at times we showed incredible poise and tenacity. I thought we moved the ball well, and we played some excellent hockey.

“I feel like we'll learn from this and move forward. Of course we have a great opportunity in playing Albany tomorrow. We're disappointed by the loss but incredibly excited about our future and our potential as a team. We will grow and we will get better.”

No. 3 Syracuse 4, No. 2 UNC 2

Scoring: UNC – Nina Notman (Sam Night, Kristy Bernatchez), 12:59; UNC – Emily Wold, 31:39; SU – Roos Weers (Serra Degnan, Emma Russell), 45:20; SU – Laura Hurff (Weers), 57:27; SU – Russell (Emma Lamison); SU – Lies Lagerweig, 67:11

Shots: UNC 10 (6/4), SU 9 (1/8)

Penalty corners: UNC 5 (3/2), SU 6 (1/5)

Saves: UNC 1 (Shannon Johnson, 66:28, 3 goals allowed, 1 save; Team, 3:32, 0 goal allowed); SU 6 (Jess Jecko, 70:00, 2 goals allowed, 6 saves)

Records: UNC 4-1, Syracuse 5-0

UNC starters: Shannon Johnson, Lauren Moyer, Emily Wold, Nina Notman, Ashley Hoffman, Malin Evert, Julia Young, Morgan Goetz, Casey Di Nardo, Eva van't Hoog, Gab Major