Field Hockey Shuts Out Stanford, 6-0, In ACC Tournament Opening Round

Tuesday, November 3

Chapel Hill

10 AM

North Carolina

(12-6, 6-2)

Stanford

(10-8, 2-6)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Stanford	0	0	0	0	0
North Carolina	1	2	2	1	6

Game Notes

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 3, 2026 | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Nathan Kime

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina field hockey picked up its ninth ACC tournament win in the Erin Matson era on Tuesday morning with a commanding, 6-0 victory against Stanford in the opening round of the 2026 ACC Championship at Karen Shelton Stadium.

The No. 7 Tar Heels (12-6) racked up their highest-scoring ACC tournament game since 2018 as five different players found the back of the net.

"We executed our game plan well," Matson remarked after the game. "Their energy, their communication, their effort, and the hockey, they know it's in their control, and they're stepping into that really well. Just playing the game plan and playing like Carolina."

UNC wasted no time after the first whistle, converting on their opening trip down the field. Just 34 seconds into the game, Reese Anetsberger slid a pass inside to Charly Bruder, who sent it in to put the Heels up 1-0.

Early in the second quarter, Carolina put together a full team goal as they passed it around the circle to Hope Haynes who sent a cross inside to Ryleigh Heck for a quick flip into the goal to make it 2-0.

The third of the half came off a second chance on a penalty corner shot as Heck controlled the rebound to add her second of the game. The win marked her 16^th career multi-goal game.

Tessa Shahbo, after being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, continued her stellar play by shutting down both of Stanford's shots she faced.

Carolina continued to dominate on the offensive end in the second half with recently named ACC Freshman of the Year Sofia Ferri scoring her seventh goal of the season right out of the gates to put the Tar Heels up 4-0.

Coco Courtright got on the scoresheet next with an impressive individual effort. She wove her way through defenders and slotted a backhand through the Stanford goalkeeper's legs to increase the lead to five.

Later in the fourth quarter, Hope Haynes was designated to take a penalty stroke for Carolina. The final goal of the match was a special one for the senior defender, as she converted, putting the Heels up 6-0. It was Haynes' first goal at home as a Tar Heel.

The trio of All-ACC honorees, Bruder, Ferri and Heck, each scored today as the Heels cruised past the Cardinal.

Merrit Skubisz closed out the game at keeper for Carolina as both her and Tessa Shahbo combined for the shutout.

The Tar Heels continue their quest for 10 straight ACC titles Wednesday at 1 PM ET on ACC Network against the winner of the Syracuse and Louisville contest.