University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, September 11
Chapel Hill
5 PM
North Carolina
vs
Old Dominion
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Field Hockey Prepped For Games Against Historic Foes
September 11, 2026 | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina field hockey now faces a home and road split weekend against schools from the commonwealth as they welcome No. 20 Old Dominion on Friday before traveling to face Richmond on Sunday.
➤ Friday's game features the sport's two most storied programs. The Monarchs held the top spot early on thanks to dominant runs in the 80s and 90s, but a three peat from 1995-97 turned the tide towards the Heels. UNC's 2020 title tied the count at nine apiece before the '22 and '23 championship put Carolina two clear of their historic rivals.
➤ It will be just the ninth meeting all-time on Sunday between Carolina and Richmond, who last played each other in 2025 and then before that in the NCAA Tournament in 2004.
SCHEDULE
Game 1: vs. #20 Old Dominion - Friday, September 11 – 5 PM ET – ACCNX – Live Stats
Game 2: at Richmond - Sunday, September 13 – 12 PM ET – ESPN+ – Live Stats
#5 North Carolina Tar Heels (2-2)(0-0 ACC)
Head Coach: Erin Matson
Record at UNC: 61-8
Record vs. ODU: 3-0
Record vs. Richmond: 1-0
#20 Old Dominion Monarchs (3-1)(0-0 Big East)
Head Coach: Andrew Griffiths
Record at ODU: 142-97
Record vs. UNC: 0-9
Richmond Spiders (3-1)(0-0 A10)
Head Coach: Martu Loncarica
Record at Richmond: 26-17
Record vs. UNC: 0-1
BOUT HOW YOU GET BACK UP
➤ The Heels bounced back well from a tough opening weekend by picking up two big wins against Penn and No. 2 Princeton in week two of the 2026 season.
➤ It was a dominant performance on Friday night against the Quakers, as Carolina scored seven in picking up their first victory of the season. Charly Bruder and Sofia Ferri both knocked in two to help UNC to its fourth time scoring seven or more under head coach Erin Matson's leadership.
➤ Sunday was the headliner on ACC Network as the Heels faced the No. 2 Tigers. It was a tense match that needed heroics in goal from Merritt Skubisz to keep things level. No score could be found in regulation or the overtime period, so it went to shootouts where Coco Courtright, Reese Anetsberger, and Ferri finished off their attempts to give Carolina the win.
HEELS SWEEP ACC POTW AWARDS
➤ Following an incredibly impressive pair of performances over the weekend, Carolina's Sofia Ferri and Merritt Skubisz both claimed ACC Player of the Week honors on September 8.
➤ Ferri, primarily a holding/defensive midfielder, won the offensive award for a pair of goals on Friday against Penn before putting the decisive penalty shootout score away to beat No. 2 Princeton on Sunday.
➤ Skubisz was unbelievable in goal all weekend, keeping a shutout in both games across 135+ minutes of play. A full extension stick save just before halftime against the Tigers was the play of the season so far. She also denied the first three of Princeton's shootout attempts to put UNC in prime position for the win.
THE FORTRESS SHELTON
➤ Karen Shelton Stadium officially opened August 25, 2018 and has been host to countless Carolina Field Hockey core memories since then.
➤ Named after the Heels' hall of fame coach of 42 seasons, it is the only UNC athletic playing facility named in honor of a woman and was just the second time in school history that an individual coached in a facility named for themselves.
➤ KSS has played host to numerous postseason contests, including the 2018 ACC Championship as well as the 2020 & 2023 NCAA Championships (the Tar Heels won all three tournaments).
➤ It took more than three years and 42 total games before UNC took its first loss in KSS, at the hands of Liberty on Oct. 10, 2021.
➤ The team is 76-4 in the now nine seasons of play in the place they affectionately refer to as "Blue Heaven."
➤ Friday's game features the sport's two most storied programs. The Monarchs held the top spot early on thanks to dominant runs in the 80s and 90s, but a three peat from 1995-97 turned the tide towards the Heels. UNC's 2020 title tied the count at nine apiece before the '22 and '23 championship put Carolina two clear of their historic rivals.
➤ It will be just the ninth meeting all-time on Sunday between Carolina and Richmond, who last played each other in 2025 and then before that in the NCAA Tournament in 2004.
SCHEDULE
Game 1: vs. #20 Old Dominion - Friday, September 11 – 5 PM ET – ACCNX – Live Stats
Game 2: at Richmond - Sunday, September 13 – 12 PM ET – ESPN+ – Live Stats
#5 North Carolina Tar Heels (2-2)(0-0 ACC)
Head Coach: Erin Matson
Record at UNC: 61-8
Record vs. ODU: 3-0
Record vs. Richmond: 1-0
#20 Old Dominion Monarchs (3-1)(0-0 Big East)
Head Coach: Andrew Griffiths
Record at ODU: 142-97
Record vs. UNC: 0-9
Richmond Spiders (3-1)(0-0 A10)
Head Coach: Martu Loncarica
Record at Richmond: 26-17
Record vs. UNC: 0-1
BOUT HOW YOU GET BACK UP
➤ The Heels bounced back well from a tough opening weekend by picking up two big wins against Penn and No. 2 Princeton in week two of the 2026 season.
➤ It was a dominant performance on Friday night against the Quakers, as Carolina scored seven in picking up their first victory of the season. Charly Bruder and Sofia Ferri both knocked in two to help UNC to its fourth time scoring seven or more under head coach Erin Matson's leadership.
➤ Sunday was the headliner on ACC Network as the Heels faced the No. 2 Tigers. It was a tense match that needed heroics in goal from Merritt Skubisz to keep things level. No score could be found in regulation or the overtime period, so it went to shootouts where Coco Courtright, Reese Anetsberger, and Ferri finished off their attempts to give Carolina the win.
HEELS SWEEP ACC POTW AWARDS
➤ Following an incredibly impressive pair of performances over the weekend, Carolina's Sofia Ferri and Merritt Skubisz both claimed ACC Player of the Week honors on September 8.
➤ Ferri, primarily a holding/defensive midfielder, won the offensive award for a pair of goals on Friday against Penn before putting the decisive penalty shootout score away to beat No. 2 Princeton on Sunday.
➤ Skubisz was unbelievable in goal all weekend, keeping a shutout in both games across 135+ minutes of play. A full extension stick save just before halftime against the Tigers was the play of the season so far. She also denied the first three of Princeton's shootout attempts to put UNC in prime position for the win.
THE FORTRESS SHELTON
➤ Karen Shelton Stadium officially opened August 25, 2018 and has been host to countless Carolina Field Hockey core memories since then.
➤ Named after the Heels' hall of fame coach of 42 seasons, it is the only UNC athletic playing facility named in honor of a woman and was just the second time in school history that an individual coached in a facility named for themselves.
➤ KSS has played host to numerous postseason contests, including the 2018 ACC Championship as well as the 2020 & 2023 NCAA Championships (the Tar Heels won all three tournaments).
➤ It took more than three years and 42 total games before UNC took its first loss in KSS, at the hands of Liberty on Oct. 10, 2021.
➤ The team is 76-4 in the now nine seasons of play in the place they affectionately refer to as "Blue Heaven."
Players Mentioned
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/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
M/B
/ Field Hockey
M/B
/ Field Hockey
GK
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