The No. 1 North Carolina field hockey team (22-1) will travel to the Final Four this weekend in hopes of capturing a national title that has eluded them the last two years.
But before they can worry about the possibility of playing on Sunday, the Tar Heels will first have to face the team that is responsible for the only blemish on their record — Syracuse.
“It’s a completely different team, so there’s no fear in this group,” coach Karen Shelton said. “But they’re not thinking about last year, they’re thinking about Friday and Syracuse.”
Overcoming the No. 5 Orange (19-2) will be no easy task, but the Tar Heels have added a few weapons to their arsenal since their 1-0 overtime loss in the third game of the season.
After sitting out for the first six games to resolve NCAA eligibility issues, sophomore forward Charlotte Craddock took to the field and has been instrumental in UNC’s dynamic offense.
“It helps getting a girl like (Craddock) because she can just take it herself sometimes and end the game right there,” senior midfielder Kelsey Kolojejchick said.
Craddock leads the team in goals with 22 and has transformed the traditionally defensively strong team into a dangerous offensive threat.
The Tar Heels have scored 106 goals this season, eclipsing the record set by the 2007 national championship team.
“The last couple of years, we’ve been a much stronger defensive team and this year, we’re a much stronger offensive team,” Shelton said.
