UNC Beats App State 4-1 For Program-Record Winning Streak

Sunday, September 22

Boone, N.C.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

(7-0)

Appalachian State

(6-2)

North Carolina

Appalachian State

Senior Ellen Payne made her first career start as the Tar Heels won 4-1 Sunday at Appalachian State.

September 22, 2019 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

BOONE, N.C. – The top-ranked North Carolina field hockey team earned its second true road win of the season Sunday afternoon, beating host Appalachian State 4-1 at Adcock Field. The victory was the 30^th in a row for the Tar Heels, adding this fall's 7-0 record to a 23-0 mark from last season to set a program record for consecutive wins.

It was the second 4-1 win of the weekend for UNC, after the Tar Heels (7-0, 1-0 ACC) opened Atlantic Coast Conference play at home on Friday, beating Louisville by the same score. ASU fell to 6-2 with the loss.

"We're happy with this one," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "I thought we passed the ball very well. Appalachian State defended us incredibly well – their goalkeeper was on fire and they had three defensive saves, but it didn't rattle our team. We kept working hard and creating opportunities. This is the kind of game that makes us better. "

After opening the season in Ann Arbor, Mich., with a win over host Michigan and then a neutral-site matchup with Iowa back on Sept. 1, the Tar Heels have played their last four games at home, capping that stretch with Friday's win over the No. 7 Cardinals. They left Chapel Hill Saturday for the bus ride to Boone, their first road trip in three weeks.

UNC trailed early in its first three games of the fall, but had managed to score first in the three most recent wins. Sunday the Tar Heels did it again, scoring just 2:21 into the action, when sophomore Erin Matson – who would finish with two goals and an assist – took an on-target shot from the left side.

The Mountaineers answered less than two minutes later, scoring on their first penalty corner of the game. The 1-1 tie lasted into the second period, when Matson scored again to put UNC up for good. On a penalty corner, one of two for UNC in the second period and 11 for the game, Matson got around a defender for a close-range shot that made the score 2-1 in the 23^rd minute.

The Tar Heels added two goals in the third quarter, with senior Megan DuVernois scoring on a rebound after the first shot on a penalty corner was saved in the 33^rd minute, and sophomore Riley Fulmer redirecting a cross from Matson from the right post to make it 4-1 in the 39^th minute.

For the game, UNC had 27 shots, the second-highest total of the season, to ASU's two, both of which came on penalty corners. The Tar Heels led 11-2 in corners.

Carolina played three goalkeepers in the win, with junior Amanda Hendry starting and playing the first 38 minutes before being replaced by senior Alex Halpin. Sophomore Megan Ragusa made her first appearance of the season to play the final 2:17.

The Mountaineers are coached by UNC graduate Meghan Dawson, a member of Carolina's 2007 and 2009 NCAA Championship teams. She got the team off to a 6-0 start this fall, the best in program history, before two losses over the weekend, and Shelton left the field impressed by what her former player has accomplished in Boone. "Meghan Dawson is one of our own and her team is taking on a lot of her personality: grit, determination, effort, hustle," Shelton said. "It's fun to see the App State program develop under her leadership."

Sunday's win kicked off a three-game road swing for UNC. The Tar Heels travel to face Virginia next Friday in ACC play then James Madison on Sunday.

No. 1 UNC 4, Appalachian State 1
Scoring: UNC – Erin Matson, 2:21; ASU – Veerle Van Heertum (Chloe Bell), 4:12; UNC – Matson, 22:22; UNC – Megan DuVernois, 32:05; UNC – Riley Fulmer (Matson), 38:16
Shots: UNC 27 (8/5/6/8), ASU 2 (2/0/0/0)
Penalty corners: UNC 11 (2/2/4/3), ASU 2 (2/0/0/0)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 0 (Amanda Hendry, 38:16, 1 goal allowed, 0 saves; Alex Halpin, 19:27; Megan Ragusa, 2:17)
Defensive saves: ASU 3 (Annette Jarosz 2, B. Schoenbachler 1)
Records: UNC 7-0, ASU 6-2

UNC starters: Amanda Hendry, Erin Matson, Madison Orobono, Catherine Hayden, Romea Riccardo, Feline Guenther, Yentl Leemans, Eva Smolenaars, Megan DuVernois, Marissa Creatore, Ellen Payne
UNC subs: Hannah Griggs, Julia Herrington, Bryn Boylan, Karlijn Goes, Abby Pitcairn, Riley Fulmer, Alex Halpin, Megan Ragusa