Carolina field hockey wins 27th ACC title
Following last week’s 4-1 win against Boston College, the Tar Heels will defend their national championship beginning Friday.
Carolina field hockey defeated Boston College, 4-1, Friday afternoon in Winston-Salem for the program’s 27th Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title.
Charly Bruder, Cianna Riccardo, Sanne Hak and Ryleigh Heck each scored in a win that gave the Tar Heels their eighth consecutive conference championship and the second in as many years under head coach Erin Matson.
“Just really proud of this team,” Matson said after the game. “They have a lot of experience; they have a lot of maturity while still remaining hungry for more. They constantly are trying to raise the standard. I am proud of what we have done so far, and we will enjoy today, but the job’s not finished.”
Following a scoreless opening period, Carolina took the lead on Bruder’s 26th goal of the season, assisted by Riccardo and Katie Dixon, early in the second period. Riccardo went from assisting to scoring and doubled the Tar Heel advantage with her first goal of the year 3½ minutes before halftime.
A penalty stroke goal by Hak made it 3-0 in the third period, and the Tar Heels closed out the scoring with Heck’s 13th goal of the year in the fourth. Boston College avoided the shutout and got on the board with less than a minute remaining.
The reigning national champion, Carolina is the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and will play the winner of Delaware and Fairfield on Friday in the first round. The Tar Heels have 11 NCAA championships and have won five out of the last six.
