A Better UNC Welcomes Back A Better Matson For ACC Tournament

Friday, November 8

Newton, Mass.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

Louisville (ACC Semifinals)

UNC faces Louisville at 1 p.m. Friday in the first ACC semifinal.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 8, 2019 | Field Hockey

By: UNC Athletic Communications

NEWTON, Mass. – For the second year in a row, the North Carolina field hockey team heads into the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament as the top seed and without a loss. But this year is different from the last in several ways.

When the Tar Heels opened play in the 2018 semifinals, it was on their home turf. This year they're far from home, in sunny but chilly Newton, Mass. Boston College is hosting the tournament at Newton Field Hockey Complex. They'll take on No. 6 Louisville on Friday at 1 p.m.

UNC (17-0) is also coming off a three-game stretch without one of their teammates, who also happens to be the nation's top scorer. Sophomore forward Erin Matson returned to Chapel Hill on Monday from India, where she was playing for the U.S. National Team in an Olympic Qualifier. She's been with the team all week, easing back into practice after the physical stress of National Team play and travel home. Wednesday she was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Friday she'll take the field in Boston with her UNC teammates, knowing they're better than they were when she left. And she's better, too.

"I think it was great that while I was away, the team was able to grow and learn and play without me for a little bit, and I was able to better my skills over in India playing against international competition," Matson said. "It's always a challenge and I always become a better player from it. But I'm definitely excited to be back and playing with the team."

The Tar Heels won three games in Matson's absence, but each was close: they beat Boston College 3-2 with a late goal to finish ACC play undefeated, then beat Old Dominion 1-0 in their lowest-scoring game of the fall. In the final game of the regular season, UNC went into overtime for this first time this season, eventually beating Saint Joseph's 3-2 in double OT.

"Not having Erin was really good for us, even though we missed her," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "We grew as a team. People had to step up. I'm incredibly proud of our team for handling not only her being away, but at the same time we had a rash of injuries we had to deal with. We were shorthanded, but we were tough and resilient and fought hard. We never quit, we came from behind to win – it was very, very good for us. To have the experience of 7-v-7 was good for us. We hadn't had it all year and it was really important for our continued growth.

"We couldn't be more proud of Erin. We held down the fort while she was away and we welcomed her back a stronger and more confident team."

The Tar Heels followed the U.S. games, gathering in their film room last Saturday morning for the second and final U.S.-India contest, cheering on the Tar Heels on the team (four alums in addition to Matson) and the rest of the red, white and blue. Matson knew they were supporting her.

"There was support on both ends," Matson said. "I knew going into each of my games that they were at home cheering me on and they knew that for every one of their games I was probably sleeping because of the time difference but as soon as I woke up I was watching the games and watching the highlights and texting them."

Now they're all back on the same bus, and bench and this afternoon, on the same turf. And although the circumstances are different from last year's, they're playing for the same result.