Tar Heels Earn Spot In NCAA Championship Game

Friday, November 16

Louisville, Ky.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

(22-0)

Wake Forest (NCAA semifinal)

(13-10)

Team	1	2	Final F
Wake Forest	0	1	1
North Carolina	4	0	4

The Tar Heels will play Sunday for the program's seventh title.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 16, 2018 | Field Hockey

Box Score Watch Highlights Photo Gallery

By: UNC Athletic Communications

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The top-ranked North Carolina field hockey team started fast and never looked back on the way to a 4-1 win over No. 12 Wake Forest Friday in an NCAA semifinal matchup at Louisville's Trager Stadium. On a chilly, overcast afternoon, the Tar Heels took the lead for good in the fifth minute on a penalty corner and led 4-0 before Wake Forest scored in the 59^th minute of play.

UNC will face Maryland, a 1-0 winner over Princeton in the second semifinal game, which went into overtime. It will be UNC's 18^th appearance in the NCAA title game, and the Tar Heels are looking for their seventh championship. They last won in 2009, beating Maryland for the title.

"I first want to start off congratulating our sisters from the ACC, Wake Forest," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "We continue to be impressed by their team. It's really hard to beat a good team three times and they gave us everything we could possibly handle in periods of that game.
"They pressed, they ran, they only used two subs, they showed incredible resilience and put unbelievable pressure on us, so I just admire Jennifer [Averill] and the way she coaches her kids and how well they played today.

"Beyond that I am delighted to advance, and I know for our players this is something they have looked for and looked forward to, the chance to play for a National Championship. Everyone dreams of that and so to make it to the Final Four is a huge accomplishment and then you have to take the next step. You can't win it unless you get there and of course it is a huge honor and privilege to compete for a National Championship and we look forward to doing that on Sunday.

Friday's first goal came on UNC's second penalty corner of the day. Senior Malin Evert's shot bounced off a defender's stick and into the cage. Freshma Erin Matson and junior Yentl Leemans had the assists.

The Tar Heels struck again in the 17^th minute. Sophomore Meredith Sholder carried the ball into the circle on the left side and sent a ball across the cage. Freshman Erin Matson, positioned by the left post, redirected it through Wake keeper Isla Bint's legs and in for a 2-0 lead.

Matson also had the third goal, upping her season total to a team-high 19. This time it was junior Marissa Creatore who carried the ball into the circle and sent an on-target pass from the right baseline to the front of the cage, where Matson sprinted in to tip it past Bint and make the score 3-0.

In the 33^rd minute, Shoulder again picked up the assist, this time with a ball from mid-circle that senior Eva van't Hoog redirected in for a 4-0 Tar Heel lead.

The Demon Deacons' goal was scored by Kelsey Gill, who tipped in a ball from Megan Anderson with just under 12 minutes to play in the game.

Tar Heel goalkeeper Amanda Hendry made five saves, tying her season high. The sophomore played the first 64 minutes, and junior Alex Halpin came in for the final six minutes.

UNC's senior captain, Ashley Hoffman, left late in the game with a cut at her left eyebrow. She returned minutes later in jersey No. 32, instead of her customary No. 13, which had to be changed because she got blood on it. She received four stitches after the game and is not expected to be hindered by the injury. "She's a warrior," Shelton said. "She's tough."

Wake out-cornered UNC 7-5, just the fifth time this season but the second time in as many games that the Tar Heels have drawn fewer corners than an opponent. UNC led 13-12 in shots, with the Tar Heels taking nine in the first half and Wake taking nine in the second half.

No. 1 UNC 4, No. 12 Wake Forest 1
Scoring: UNC – Malin Evert (Erin Matson, Yentl Leemans), 4:49; UNC – Matson (Meredith Sholder), 16:54; UNC – Matson (Marissa Creatore), 30:41; UNC – Eva van't Hoog (Sholder), 32:16; WFU – Kelsey Gill (Megan Anderson), 58:02
Shots: UNC 13 (9/4), WFU 12 (3/9)
Penalty corners: UNC 5 (3/2), WFU 7 (3/4)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 5 (Amanda Hendry, 64:23, 5 saves, 1 goal allowed; Alex Halpin, 5:37, 0 saves, 0 goals allowed); WFU 5 (Isla Bint, 70:00, 5 saves, 4 goals allowed)
Records: UNC 22-0, Wake Forest 13-10

UNC Starters: Amanda Hendry, Erin Matson, Catherine Hayden, Cassie Sumfest, Ashley Hoffman, Feline Guenther, Malin Evert, Morgan Goetz, Yentl Leemans, Eva van't Hoog, Marissa Creatore
UNC Subs: Meredith Sholder, Hannah Griggs, Abby Pitcairn, Eva Smolenaars, Courtnie Williamson, Megan DuVernois, Alex Halpin