Field Hockey Wins 27th ACC Title

Friday, November 8

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Noon

North Carolina

(18-0)

Boston College

(14-6)

Boston College

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 8, 2024 | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The North Carolina Field Hockey program defeated Boston College 4-1 on Friday afternoon in Ketner Stadium to claim their 27th Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title and eighth in a row.

The top seeded Tar Heels (18-0) tightened their stranglehold on the conference, as they are now 17 titles clear of the program with the next most in ACC history.

That's #️⃣2️⃣7️⃣!! Who else but the Heels?

We are the 2024 ACC Champions! pic.twitter.com/wUwWX7Vyz4
— UNC Field Hockey (@UNCFieldHockey) November 8, 2024

"Just really proud of this team," head coach Erin Matson said after the game. "They have a lot of experience, they have a lot of maturity while still remaining hungry for more. They constantly are trying to raise the standard. I am proud of what we have done so far and we will enjoy today, but the job's not finished."

Carolina dominated the game from start to finish, getting goals from Charly Bruder, Cianna Riccardo, Sanne Hak, and Ryleigh Heck along their path to victory. The three assists on the day was enough to break the record for most in a single tournament in ACC Championship history, breaking a 28 year old mark set by the 1996 Tar Heel team.

Bruder, who was named tournament MVP for her five goal performance on the week, opened up the scoring with yet another rocket shot off a corner. It was her 26^th this season, moving her up to tie for the eighth most in a single season in program history. Her five goals were tied for the second most in one tournament in conference history.

Riccardo popped up at the post later in the second quarter to put the Heels up by two. It was her first goal of the year, but Carolina's 30^th off a corner attack. The team set a new season high with 18 in this game and are converting 43.5% on the season.

The Tar Heels would add two more in the second half to put the game to bed, the first coming from the penalty spot. The sophomore Hak, who has taken every penalty stroke this year, stepped up and finished easily past ACC Goalkeeper of the Year Charley Kramer. ACC Offensive Player of the Year Ryleigh Heck scored her 13^th of the season in fancy fashion, weaving through the Boston College back line to sneak a shot inside the post past Kramer.

Carolina is now a whopping 68-15 all-time in ACC tournament play with a 40-2 record as the No. 1 seed. This was the 19th championship of the 27 total that the Tar Heels won as the top seed.

The championship earns UNC an automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA Championship field, the rest of which will be announced on Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.