Tar Heels Spread Scoring Around In Win At Appalachian St.

Sunday, September 27

Boone, N.C.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

(9-1)

Appalachian State

(2-7)

North Carolina

Appalachian State

September 27, 2015 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

BOONE, N.C. – Seven different Tar Heel players scored goals and senior Casey Di Nardo chipped in two as the third-ranked North Carolina field hockey team earned an 8-2 win at Appalachian State Sunday afternoon. UNC improved to 9-1 on the season while the Mountaineers fell to 2-7.

The game featured Tar Heels on both benches, as UNC alum Meghan Dawson is ASU's first-year head coach. “I'm proud of Meghan Dawson and what she's accomplished with her program,” UNC coach Karen Shelton said. “They're much improved. I didn't like giving up two goals, but credit to Appalachian State for that – they beat us to the ball a couple of times and made us pay.”

Playing in the rain at ASU's Adcock field, UNC sophomore Gab Major scored the gamewinner just 1:37 into the match, assisted by freshman Malin Evert. Major, coming off a hat-trick in Friday's win over Boston College, assisted on Di Nardo's first goal two minutes later, putting the Tar Heels up 2-0 less than four minutes into the action.

Next came three goals in a row by freshmen. Austyn Cuneo, the career goals leader in high school field hockey, scored her first collegiate goal in the 16th minute of play on a shot from the right side.

In the 22nd minute, Evert scored her fourth goal of the season, with Major again picking up the assist.

In the 24th minute, Ashley Hoffman scored her second career goal on a penalty corner, assisted by junior Julia Young.

With the Tar Heels up 5-0, the Mountaineers scored two goals in the three minutes before halftime. In the 33rd minute Charlotte Kirwan got her team on the board with her first goal of the season, assisted by Micaela Diedericks. Twelve seconds before halftime, Diedericks scored her own goal, assisted by Savanna Sheridan, to make it 5-2 at halftime.

In the second half, senior Emily Wold added a goal in the 45th minute and Di Nardo scored her second, assisted by senior Nina Notman, in the 50th minute.

The final goal of the game came on a penalty corner in the 66th minute. Junior Caroline Plyler scored, assisted by Young and redshirt freshman Halle Frain, who picked up her first career point.

UNC led 24-4 in shots and 9-1 in corners, with seven of the Carolina chances coming in the second half.

“I'm happy for Austyn – getting the first one is important,” Shelton said. “I'm pleased that everyone had the chance to play – it was a good trip for our team and a good weekend.”

The Tar Heels are back in action on Friday, when they travel to Charlottesville, Va., for an Atlantic Coast Conference game against Virginia.

No. 3 UNC 8, Appalachian State 2

Scoring: UNC –Gab Major (Malin Evert), 1:37; UNC – Casey Di Nardo (Major), 3:55; UNC – Austyn Cuneo, 15:24; UNC – Evert (Major), 21:46; UNC – Ashley Hoffman (Julia Young), 23:52; ASU – Charlotte Kirwan (Micaela Diedericks), 32:20; ASU – Diedericks (Savanna Sheridan), 34:48; UNC – Emily Wold, 44:20; UNC – Di Nardo (Notman), 49:22; UNC – Caroline Plyler (Young, Halle Frain), 65:01

Shots: UNC 24 (11/13), ASU 4 (2/2)

Penalty corners: UNC 9 (2/7); ASU 1 (0/1)

Saves: UNC 1 (Shannon Johnson, 35:00, 0 saves, 2 goals allowed; Mary Kathryn Harrah, 35:00, 1 save, 0 goal allowed); ASU 10 (Cristina Ceppi, 70:00, 10 saves, 8 goal allowed)

Records: UNC 9-1, ASU 2-7

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