Cardiac Carolina Rallies To Beat Syracuse, 4-3

Friday, October 17

Syracuse, NY

3 PM

North Carolina

(13-1, 6-1)

Syracuse

(10-4, 2-3)

North Carolina

Syracuse

October 17, 2025 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: William Soulé

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Carolina field hockey stormed back from a two-goal, second half deficit to take a 4-3 win over No. 9 Syracuse on Friday afternoon at J.S. Coyne Stadium.

The Tar Heels (13-1, 6-1 ACC) trailed 3-1 in the third quarter before rattling off three unanswered goals to claim their fifth win on the bounce and make it seven in a row against the Orange.

Winning in this kind of comeback reset a number of counters for Carolina. It is the first time this season they've been down by two goals and the first time they've been trailing at the half. It is also the most goals they've allowed since an October 20, 2023, 3-2 loss to Virginia, just the third time under head coach Erin Matson giving up three goals in a contest.

Things looked to be settling into a nice place for the Tar Heels early, as Charly Bruder rocketed home a penalty corner goal in the third minute of play. It was a massive game for the junior forward, who logged a hat trick and an assist when it was all said and done.

Before Bruder's second half heroics, Syracuse scored a flurry of first half goals off the sticks of Bo Van kempen, Hattie Madden, and Lieke Leeggangers to take the 3-1 lead. It was the first time Syracuse had held any sort of lead against UNC in four years.

Then came the second half, where the Heels regained their control of possession and thus dominated the offensive chances. UNC outshot Syracuse 12-3 after half time and they made the most of it.

In the 35^th minute, Sanne Hak found Ryleigh Heck on the right side of the circle off a free hit. The reigning ACC Offensive Player of the Year did what she does so well, she drove through the Syracuse back line and found Bruder waiting at the back post to put it away.

Early in the fourth quarter and needing a goal to tie it up, Bruder took a shot on a penalty corner that found its way to Dani Mendez who had an open net to score her seventh of the season to make it 3-3.

Finally, with time about to expire, Sietske Brüning took the ball off a Syracuse attacker and set the Heels off in transition. Naturally, the ball found its way to a well-positioned Bruder all alone with the keeper Tane King. Bruder's initial shot was stopped by King, but the rebound fell right back to the Carolina forward who made no mistake the second time to give UNC the winning goal with just 19 seconds remaining.

The hat trick was the first of the season for the forward who led the nation in scoring last season. The seven point outing is the highest mark of her career.

The Tar Heels will hope to the momentum travels with them an hour south to Ithaca on Sunday where they will take on Cornell. The game is set to start at 12 p.m. ET with a live stream of the contest available for free on Cornell's website.