UNC Tops Miami 7-2 In Home Opener

Sunday, September 19

Chapel Hill

1 PM

North Carolina

(4-3)

Miami (Ohio)

(3-6)

Miami

North Carolina

A team effort and balanced scoring powered UNC to a 7-2 win on Sunday.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 19, 2021 | Field Hockey

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By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina field hockey team gave Tar Heel fans plenty of opportunities to celebrate in Sunday's home opener, beating Miami 7-2 on a sunny afternoon at Karen Shelton Stadium. Eight different players had at least one goal or assist in the win, which boosted sixth-ranked UNC to 4-3 on the season.

Next up for the Tar Heels is the Atlantic Coast Conference opener, on Friday at home against No. 3 Boston College. That's the second in a three-game homestand after the Tar Heels opened the fall with six games away from home.

"It's certainly great to be back at home after three long weekends on the road." UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "I felt like our team started the game with a lot of energy and really put pressure on Miami of Ohio from the beginning. We knew they were a dangerous team. Even though they didn't have the wins, they've played a lot of very good teams close. They had our respect, they had our attention and I think our kids prepared really well."

Junior Paityn Wirth opened the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 12^th minute. She carried the ball into the circle and backhanded a rocket into the cage to put the Tar Heels up 1-0.

The RedHawks answered quickly, drawing a corner and scoring on their first shot of the game less than a minute later, with Paula Peña registering the goal on a corner deflection.

UNC then responded to move ahead for good. On a penalty corner, Cassie Sumfest took the initial shot and Hannah Griggs deflected it up and into the cage for a 2-1 lead in the 14^th minute.

Carolina extended its lead in the second quarter with another penalty corner goal, this one by Sumfest, whose shot got past Miami keeper Isabelle Perese and bounced just inside the left post, assisted by Erin Matson and Madison Orobono.

After a 3-1 Carolina lead at halftime, the third quarter was the home team's biggest of the day. The Tar Heels got off nine shots and scored three times. In the 32^nd minute, Matson got the ball in front of the cage and sent it to the right post, where Griggs deflected it in for her second goal of the day.

Miami again answered quickly, with Morgan Sturm scoring 25 seconds later on a second-chance shot on the RedHawks' only penalty corner of the quarter. That closed the gap to two before the Tar Heels added three more goals.

With three minutes remaining in the third quarter on a penalty corner, Matson's initial shot was blocked by a defender and the rebound bounced out to sophomore Kiersten Thomassey, who put it back for a 5-2 lead and the first goal of her career.

Less than a minute later on another penalty corner, the initial shot was saved and the rebound rolled out of the circle where Romea Riccardo tracked it down and passed it to Orobono. She carried it into the circle and sent a hard ball to the left post, where Eva Smolenaars tipped it in for a 6-2 lead.

The final goal of the day came from UNC's leading scorer. On a penalty corner in the 47^th minute, the insert went straight to Jasmina Smolenaars, who passed it toward the cage. Matson, in the middle of the circle, deflected the ball inside the left post for the 7-2 final score.

First home win of the season ✅ Check out all 7️⃣ goals in today's highlights ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/gzjca6ZvA9
— UNC Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) September 19, 2021

In addition to the balanced scoring, Shelton was pleased by her team's ball movement, specifically calling out a couple of fifth-year seniors.

"I want to shout-out Cassie Sumfest and Meredith Sholder in the middle – they were able to receive with precision, turn and get the ball to the other side. Both of them did an outstanding job."

Freshman Abigail Taylor played all 60 minutes in the cage for UNC with two saves and two goals allowed. Miami's Perese finished with 15 saves, earning praise from Shelton. "We peppered here with shots and she stood tall," Shelton said, "but we eventually found a way to get around her. The versatile scoring was important for us."

No. 6 UNC 7, Miami 2
Scoring: UNC – Paityn Wirth, 11:53; MU – Paula Peña (Claudia Garcia Negrete), 12:49; UNC – Hannah Griggs (Cassie Sumfest), 13:30; UNC – Sumfest (Erin Matson, Madison Orobono), 24:04; UNC – Griggs (Matson), 31:16; MU – Morgan Sturm, 31:41; UNC – Kiersten Thomassey, 42:00; UNC – Eva Smolenaars (Orobono), 42:56; UNC – Matson (Jasmina Smolenaars), 46:17
Shots: UNC 27 (8/5/9/5), MU 11 (1/3/5/2)
Penalty corners: UNC 15 (3/3/4/5), MU 5 (1/2/1/1)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 2 (Abigail Taylor, 60:00, 2 goals allowed, 2 saves); MU 15 (Isabelle Perese, 60:00, 7 goals allowed, 15 saves)
Records: UNC 4-3, Miami 3-6