University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, October 12
Syracuse, N.Y.
1:00 PM
North Carolina
(11-0, 4-0ACC)
3
at
1
Syracuse
(8-4, 1-2ACC)
1
2
3
4
F
North Carolina
1
1
0
1
3
Syracuse
0
0
0
1
1
UNC won 3-1 at Syracuse on a cool and rainy afternoon.
Photo by: Syracuse Athletic Communications
Tar Heels Earn ACC Road Win At No. 14 Syracuse
October 12, 2019 | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The top-ranked North Carolina field hockey team earned an Atlantic Coast Conference road win on Saturday, beating No. 14 Syracuse 3-1 on a cool, rainy afternoon at J.S. Coyne Stadium. The Tar Heels improved to 11-0 overall and 4-0 in ACC play with the victory, while the Orange fell to 8-4 overall (1-2).
"It was not a pretty game at all, but I thought our fundamental skills were strong throughout," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "I was pleased to see us score in first quarter and again in the second to have a little bit of cushion at the half."
The gamewinner came near the end of the first quarter, in the 13th minute of play. Sophomore Erin Matson sent a long pass to senior Marissa Creatore on the left baseline. Creatore sent a cross through traffic to the front of the cage, where classmate Catherine Hayden deflected it in for a lead the Tar Heels wouldn't give up.
Matson scored the next goal, on a penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Senior Yentl Leemans got the ball from the stick stop by Madison Orobono and passed it to Matson, who maneuvered around defenders and then sent a shot through the legs of the Orange goalkeeper.
UNC's third goal came in transition early in the fourth quarter, with Matson again threading a long pass downfield, where Hayden received it and delivered a cross to Creatore. The senior angled her stick and deflected the ball past the keeper for a 3-0 lead.
Syracuse scored off the restart to make it 3-1 on the day.
The three Carolina goals came from the team's three starting forwards: Hayden, Matson and Creatore. In the case of the two goals that came in the run of play, all three Tar Heels had a hand in the scoring with Matson setting up both goals and the other two combining for the goal and assist. "They've gelled and bonded as a unit and they read each other very well," Shelton said. "I'm proud of them and the unselfish way they're playing. The quality of our goals today was outstanding."
After the game, UNC set out for Albany by bus to face the UAlbany Great Danes there on Sunday at 1 p.m. It's the only time during the regular season that the Tar Heels will play on back-to-back days.
"It's an awful quick turnaround," Shelton as her team prepared to depart Syracuse. "We have to put this one to bed and think about Albany. What I've seen so far is they've played all of their games close, and I expect it to be a battle like it always is. They're a solid team and very well coached."
No. 1 UNC 3, No. 14 Syracuse 1
Scoring: UNC – Catherine Hayden (Marissa Creatore), 12:06; UNC – Erin Matson, 21:39; UNC – Creatore (Hayden), 48:44; SU – Charlotte DeVries, 48:46
Shots: UNC 7 (4/1/1/1), SU 5 (2/0/2/1)
Penalty Corners: UNC 7 (3/2/1/1), SU 2 (1/0/1/0)
Goalkeeper Saves: UNC 1 (Amanda Hendry, 60:00, 1 goal allowed, 1 save), SU 4 (Sarah Sinck, 60:00, 3 goals allowed, 4 saves)
Records: UNC 11-0 (4-0 ACC), SU 8-4 (1-2 ACC)
"It was not a pretty game at all, but I thought our fundamental skills were strong throughout," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "I was pleased to see us score in first quarter and again in the second to have a little bit of cushion at the half."
The gamewinner came near the end of the first quarter, in the 13th minute of play. Sophomore Erin Matson sent a long pass to senior Marissa Creatore on the left baseline. Creatore sent a cross through traffic to the front of the cage, where classmate Catherine Hayden deflected it in for a lead the Tar Heels wouldn't give up.
Matson scored the next goal, on a penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Senior Yentl Leemans got the ball from the stick stop by Madison Orobono and passed it to Matson, who maneuvered around defenders and then sent a shot through the legs of the Orange goalkeeper.
UNC's third goal came in transition early in the fourth quarter, with Matson again threading a long pass downfield, where Hayden received it and delivered a cross to Creatore. The senior angled her stick and deflected the ball past the keeper for a 3-0 lead.
Syracuse scored off the restart to make it 3-1 on the day.
The three Carolina goals came from the team's three starting forwards: Hayden, Matson and Creatore. In the case of the two goals that came in the run of play, all three Tar Heels had a hand in the scoring with Matson setting up both goals and the other two combining for the goal and assist. "They've gelled and bonded as a unit and they read each other very well," Shelton said. "I'm proud of them and the unselfish way they're playing. The quality of our goals today was outstanding."
After the game, UNC set out for Albany by bus to face the UAlbany Great Danes there on Sunday at 1 p.m. It's the only time during the regular season that the Tar Heels will play on back-to-back days.
"It's an awful quick turnaround," Shelton as her team prepared to depart Syracuse. "We have to put this one to bed and think about Albany. What I've seen so far is they've played all of their games close, and I expect it to be a battle like it always is. They're a solid team and very well coached."
No. 1 UNC 3, No. 14 Syracuse 1
Scoring: UNC – Catherine Hayden (Marissa Creatore), 12:06; UNC – Erin Matson, 21:39; UNC – Creatore (Hayden), 48:44; SU – Charlotte DeVries, 48:46
Shots: UNC 7 (4/1/1/1), SU 5 (2/0/2/1)
Penalty Corners: UNC 7 (3/2/1/1), SU 2 (1/0/1/0)
Goalkeeper Saves: UNC 1 (Amanda Hendry, 60:00, 1 goal allowed, 1 save), SU 4 (Sarah Sinck, 60:00, 3 goals allowed, 4 saves)
Records: UNC 11-0 (4-0 ACC), SU 8-4 (1-2 ACC)
Team Stats
NC
SU
Goals
3
1
Shots
7
5
Shots on Goal
7
2
Saves
1
4
Corners
7
2
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
12
12
Scoring Plays
Catherine Hayden (12)
Assisted By: Marissa Creatore
pass from the left goal line and 8 tappe
12:06
Erin Matson (17)
scored off the corner
21:39
Marissa Creatore (9)
Assisted By: Catherine Hayden
GOAL by NC Marissa Creatore, Assist by Catherine Hayden, goal number 9 for season.
48:44
Charlotte DeVries (14)
split three defenders and hit the post a
48:46
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Field HockeyForward
/ Field Hockey
Goalkeeper
/ Field HockeyMidfielder
/ Field HockeyForward
/ Field Hockey
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