Barbacci’s Offense Powers Field Hockey To 2-1 Win At Richmond

Sunday, September 13

Richmond, Va.

12 PM

North Carolina

(3-3)

Richmond

(4-2)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
North Carolina	0	1	1	0	2
Richmond	1	0	0	0	1

Barbacci’s Offense Powers Field Hockey To 2-1 Win At Richmond

September 13, 2026 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: William Soulé

RICHMOND, Va. – A goal and an assist for senior forward Ella Barbacci saw No. 5 North Carolina field hockey to a 2-1 victory on the road at Richmond on Sunday afternoon at Crenshaw Field.

The Tar Heels (3-3) fell behind early after the game's first penalty corner produced a goal for the Spiders, but UNC produced most of the offensive pressure for the rest of the game. Carolina more than doubled up Richmond on shots, 14 (9) to 6 (2). Under head coach Erin Matson, the Heels are 9-2 overall when giving up the game's first goal.

Down a goal into the second quarter, a pair of freshmen hustled to set up Barbacci to tie the game. First it was the rookie from England, Cecily Moorhead, who drove deep into the heart of the Spiders' defense, but her initial cross was intercepted. Then came the Chapel Hill native Molly Nussbaumer who forced a turnover before Richmond could clear that bounced right in front of Barbacci who smacked it home.

It was the third goal of the weekend for the senior who has stepped up as a starting forward for her team this season. Her three prior years in Carolina Blue saw her score one goal and she tripled that in her last two games.

The Harvey's Lake, Pa., native was not done there. Early in the third quarter, a high press from Charly Bruder forced another Richmond turnover that wound up on Barbacci's stick. She would quickly get the ball back to Bruder who finished smartly with only the goalkeeper to beat.

With the goal, Bruder is now up to a team-high five on the season and has officially surpassed her former teammate Ryleigh Heck for the seventh most goals in program history with 65 in her career. She is three shy of tying program legends Kelsey Kolojejchick and Louise Hines for fifth.

The Tar Heels will have a week to prepare for the start of conference play as they are set to welcome Virginia to Karen Shelton Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 20. Coverage for that high level contest will come on the ACC Network.