Tar Heels Advance To NCAA Second Round With Shutout

Saturday, November 11

Charlottesville, Va.

11:30 AM

North Carolina

(17-4)

Saint Joseph's (NCAA 1st Round)

(18-4)

Team	1	2	Final F
Saint Joseph's	0	0	0
North Carolina	3	1	4

The Tar Heels following Saturday's win over Saint Joseph's.

November 11, 2017 | Field Hockey

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By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Sixth-ranked North Carolina opened NCAA Field Hockey Tournament play Saturday with a 4-0 first-round win over No. 15 Saint Joseph's on a chilly afternoon at Virginia's University Turf Field. Paced by senior Gab Major's two goals, the Tar Heels led 3-0 at halftime en route to their third consecutive shutout victory.

With the win, UNC (17-4) earns a spot in the NCAA second round, to be played Sunday at 2 p.m. The Tar Heels will face the winner of Saturday's second game in Charlottesville between Princeton and the host Cavaliers.

"Congratulations to Saint Joseph's for a great season," said UNC coach Karen Shelton, who coached her record 88th NCAA Tournament game Saturday. "They were tough and hungry all day and they put a lot of pressure on us. We knew they were dangerous and they brought out a great defensive effort on our part.

"I'm proud of our Tar Heels. We knew it was going to be tough and I though our kids played hard and well together.

UNC faced off for the first time in school history against Saint Joseph's, which was making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Junior Eva van't Hoog scored the gamewinner in the 10th minute of play, delivering on a shot from just inside the top of the circle. Her ball deflected off the SJU keeper and in to put the Tar Heels ahead for good.

Major, a co-captain and the team's only senior, scored both of her goals a span of 65 seconds late in the first half. Her first was off a rebound, after a save by SJU keeper Victoria Kammerinke. Major grabbed the loose ball and popped it over Kammerinke and into the cage for a 2-0 lead in the 32nd minute. Just over a minute later Major got the ball off a defender's stick in the middle of the circle, drove to her left, then sent a shot through the keeper's legs to give UNC a three-goal lead at the break.

"I thought Gab played great in those critical moments to get two big goals and give us that cushion," Shelton said. "That was huge. She really played with skill and composure in the offensive circle. I'm proud of her."

The Tar Heels added one more goal in the second half, on a penalty corner in the 61st minute of play. Junior Ashley Hoffman had the shot, assisted by sophomore Megan DuVernois on the insert and sophomore Feline Guenther on the stick stop. It was UNC's only corner of the half and just the second of the game, a season low.
"There weren't many penalty corner opportunities by either team, which is unusual, but it is what it is in a game like this," Shelton said. "We're just really happy to advance in the NCAA Tournament – it's never easy to do. "

UNC finished with 22 shots, 16 of them in the first half. All six SJU shots were after halftime. Goalkeepers Amanda Hendry and Alex Halpin shared the Tar Heels' eighth shutout of the season and third in a row. Carolina has given up just two goals (both in the ACC Championship quarterfinals to Wake Forest) in four games of postseason play.

Twenty Tar Heels played in the win, with 10 (Bryn Boylan, Guenther, Alex Halpin, Amanda Hendry, Ellen Payne, Ali Rushton, Meredith Sholder, Eva Smolenaars, Cassie Sumfest and Courtnie Williamson) making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearances.

No. 6 UNC 4, No. 15 Saint Joseph's 0
Scoring: UNC – Eva van't Hoog, 9:12; UNC – Gab Major, 31:01; UNC – Major, 32:06; UNC – Ashley Hoffman (Feline Guenther, Megan DuVernois), 60:05
Shots: UNC 22 (16/6), SJU 6 (0/6)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 4 (Amanda Hendry, 60:35, 0 goals allowed, 4 saves; Alex Halpin, 9:25, 0 goals allowed, 0 saves)
Defensive saves: UNC 1 (Cassie Sumfest)
Records: UNC 17-4, Saint Joseph's 18-4

UNC starters: Amanda Hendry, Eef Andriessen, Cassie Sumfest, Ashley Hoffman, Feline Guenther, Malin Evert, Morgan Goetz, Eva Smolenaars, Eva van't Hoog, Gab Major, Marissa Creatore
UNC subs: Meredith Sholder, Leila Evans, Bryn Boylan, Catherine Hayden, Ali Rushton, Courtnie Williamson, Megan DuVernois, Ellen Payne, Alex Halpin