Bruder Hat Trick Leads To Dominant, 8-0 Win Over St. Joe’s

Friday, October 9

Philadelphia, Pa.

3 PM

North Carolina

(7-4)

Saint Joseph's

(5-7)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
North Carolina	0	2	6	0	8
Saint Joseph's	0	0	0	0	0

Games Notes

October 9, 2026 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: William Soulé

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Dominance on both ends of the field by North Carolina field hockey led to a 8-0 win on the road at Saint Joseph's on Friday afternoon at Ellen Ryan Field.

The Tar Heels (7-4, 3-1 ACC) led 2-0 at halftime before they opened the flood gates and scored six more in the third quarter alone. It is the most UNC has ever scored in a single quarter since the move away from halves in 2019. Seven strikes in the first half against Ball State in 2018 was the last time Carolina had scored six or more in one period of play.

The Heels' head coach Erin Matson described her team's performance as "defensive domination" after the game and it would be hard to argue with her. Carolina only allowed one shot the Hawks all game, off a penalty corner deep into the fourth quarter. The attempted was blocked right off the stick.

The defensive effort from Carolina has been exquisite across their last three weekends of play. Across their last four games, they have only faced nine shots (three on goal) and allowed just one goal.

The trip to Philadelphia was planned in part because of the deep roots this program has in the state of Pennsylvania. Since 2015, 55% of the team's goals scored have come from players from the Keystone State, highlighted by the likes of Erin Matson, Ryleigh Heck, Charly Bruder, Peyton Wirth, Meredith Sholder and many more.

Pennsylvania natives played a big part in this one on their home soil, contributing five of the goals scored. It started in the second quarter with Ryleigh Heck who earned a penalty stroke and stepped up to put it away into the side netting. A penalty corner goal for junior Coco Courtright powered its way past the St. Joe's goalkeeper to put UNC up 2-0 at the half.

Then came the third quarter onslaught, highlighted by a hat trick for Bruder. Playing about 30 minutes from home, the Malvern native scored three gorgeous goals in front of a large contingent of her friends and family. She is up to 11 in total on the year and now has five career three-goal and 17 multi-goal games.

Another hometown kid, freshman Sofia Ferri, got on the scoresheet with a deflection goal provided by Hope Haynes on a penalty corner routine. Haynes found the back of the net herself on a corner later in the quarter.

One of the more meaningful moments fell to Cecily Moorhead, who scored her first career collegiate goal with a diving effort as the third of the six score onslaught. The freshman forward from Wimbledon, U.K., has impressed in earning more minutes as the season has gone on and finally got a goal of her own.

In goal, starter Merritt Skubisz and Tessa Shahbo split time in the cage but had little to do. Neither were forced to make a save in picking up the shutout.

The Tar Heels travel south to Lynchburg for a Sunday scrap with No. 17 Liberty. The game is set to start at 1 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPN+.