Field Hockey
Riccardo, Romea
Romea Riccardo
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- romea1@unc.edu
Romea Riccardo, a team captain and five-time NCAA Champion for the Tar Heels, joined the North Carolina field hockey staff as an assistant coach in August 2024. Riccardo played from 2018-2023 and was an important part of teams that won six ACC Championships, 91 percent of their games, and had three undefeated seasons.
In her first year as an assistant, focusing primarily on the team’s defensive efforts, the Tar Heels went 20-1 with 12 shutouts and led the country in goals against average. It was the most shutouts in a season for Carolina since 2011. Riccardo and company also added the program’s 27th ACC tournament title, their eighth in a row, and its 28th all-time final four appearance.
A staple along the back line in her five years in the lineup, Riccardo made 98 starts with 101 appearances for UNC. In all of those games, she helped the Heels secure 32 shutouts and her teams outscored their opponents 353-127.
She finished her career with 30 assists as one of the team’s primary stick stoppers. She was one of the top four providers for the Heels in three different seasons, including her 2020 campaign where she had 10 to lead the team. What could have been the best single moment highlight of her career didn’t get her on the stat sheet, but her deep aerial broke down the Northwestern defense to give Carolina a game-winning goal in the 2022 national championship.
She was named to two straight All-ACC Academic teams in her final two years as she finished up her double major in media & journalism and communication studies. She took on the position after graduating in December of 2024. Throughout her time as a student-athlete, Riccardo gained coaching experience through camps, clinics, and clubs.
“I am beyond excited to be back in Chapel Hill in a new role working with such an incredible staff,” Riccardo said. “I want to thank Erin, the entire coaching staff, and the Athletic Department for giving me this opportunity. Coaching field hockey and giving back to this legendary program has always been a dream of mine, and I can’t wait to continue to instill the winning tradition of Carolina field hockey.”
Riccardo is oldest of eight siblings, including a younger sister – Ciana – who also played 83 games in the backline for the Tar Heels.
In her first year as an assistant, focusing primarily on the team’s defensive efforts, the Tar Heels went 20-1 with 12 shutouts and led the country in goals against average. It was the most shutouts in a season for Carolina since 2011. Riccardo and company also added the program’s 27th ACC tournament title, their eighth in a row, and its 28th all-time final four appearance.
A staple along the back line in her five years in the lineup, Riccardo made 98 starts with 101 appearances for UNC. In all of those games, she helped the Heels secure 32 shutouts and her teams outscored their opponents 353-127.
She finished her career with 30 assists as one of the team’s primary stick stoppers. She was one of the top four providers for the Heels in three different seasons, including her 2020 campaign where she had 10 to lead the team. What could have been the best single moment highlight of her career didn’t get her on the stat sheet, but her deep aerial broke down the Northwestern defense to give Carolina a game-winning goal in the 2022 national championship.
She was named to two straight All-ACC Academic teams in her final two years as she finished up her double major in media & journalism and communication studies. She took on the position after graduating in December of 2024. Throughout her time as a student-athlete, Riccardo gained coaching experience through camps, clinics, and clubs.
“I am beyond excited to be back in Chapel Hill in a new role working with such an incredible staff,” Riccardo said. “I want to thank Erin, the entire coaching staff, and the Athletic Department for giving me this opportunity. Coaching field hockey and giving back to this legendary program has always been a dream of mine, and I can’t wait to continue to instill the winning tradition of Carolina field hockey.”
Riccardo is oldest of eight siblings, including a younger sister – Ciana – who also played 83 games in the backline for the Tar Heels.
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Sunday, September 07
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FH: Carolina Holds Off Princeton, 3-2
Sunday, September 07
