UNC field hockey seniors hold NCAA title hopes

After falling in the Final Four each of her first three years, senior forward Casey Di Nardo feels like she and the three other seniors on the North Carolina field hockey team have something to prove.

“This year we’re all really fired up,” said Di Nardo following Saturday’s scrimmage against Liberty. “We really wanna win it.”

And in order to secure the program its seventh national championship, the Tar Heels plan on using their experience to hurdle the Final Four stumbling block in 2015.

Joining Di Nardo in senior leadership is Emily Wold, who competed for gold medal-winning Team USA in the Pan American games this summer.

Wold, who finished the 2014 season in a three-way tie for the team lead in assists with 10, expressed the urgency to capture a national championship in her final collegiate season.

“For my senior season to go out and win would be incredible, icing on the cake,” Wold said. “I love it here. I wouldn’t want to be any other place. To have that championship would be really special.”

Along with Wold and Di Nardo, the Tar Heels return senior midfielder and back Nina Notman. As a junior, she started all 23 games and finished second on the team with 34 points.

Between Wold, Di Nardo, and Notman, a lot of emotion is going into this season in an attempt to finally grab the prize that has evaded them for three years.

In addition to Wold’s experience with the national team, the Tar Heels also welcome championship experience in the form of new assistant coach Laree Beans.

Beans served as the captain of UNC’s 2007 national championship team, which finished the season undefeated. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the coaching staff and the Tar Heels’ freshman class.

Midfielder Ashley Hoffman leads UNC’s freshman class, but she is far from a rookie in the eyes of the Tar Heel coaching staff.

“Ashley is one of our core people as a freshman, coming in in January,” Coach Karen Shelton said. “I don’t even view her as a freshman.”

When Di Nardo was questioned about the pressure of being a senior at such a distinguished program, she referenced the chemistry of the squad, even this early in the season.

“We have everyone that can score, it’s less pressure on one person,” Di Nardo said. “I feel like I can pass to anyone. It’s a team effort.”

Pressure on the Tar Heel offense was almost non-existent in 2014, as junior goalie Shannon Johnson held opponents to a goals against average of .87. The mark ranked No. 1 in the ACC.

But even with stellar play on the defensive end, Shelton says North Carolina will need consistent effort from everyone to pull out close games in 2015.

“We have to establish personality and habits early,” she said. “We want to be the hardest working team.”

For the Tar Heels have something to prove.

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