UNC field hockey knocks Old Dominion from top NCAA spot

The last time North Carolina played Old Dominion, the Monarchs knocked the Tar Heels from the top spot in the nation.

But when the field hockey teams met again Sunday, it was the Tar Heels’ turn to return the favor.
No. 2 UNC, bolstered by the return of U.S. gold-medal winner Katelyn Falgowski, twice came from behind a goal to defeat No. 1 Old Dominion 3-2 in overtime at Powhatan Field.

After forcing overtime, UNC made quick work of the Monarchs in the extra period, as Caitlin Van Sickle scored the game winner for the Tar Heels less than two minutes into overtime.

“We mustered up some toughness at the end,” coach Karen Shelton said. “(We were) able to force that overtime and, of course, we dominated that overtime.”

After conceding a goal early in the first half, UNC recovered after the halftime interval. Second-half goals from Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany and Kelsey Kolojejchick twice pulled UNC back level and eventually forced overtime.

Gaudioso Radvany’s goal was assisted by Van Sickle off a penalty corner in the 45th minute. Old Dominion responded immediately to take back the lead as Stephanie Kratzer scored off a penalty corner in the 48th minute.

Kolojejchick combined with Elizabeth Stephens for a give-and-go to set up Kolojejchick’s tap-in finish in the 61st minute that tied the score 2-2.

“In the second half we played much better,” Shelton said. “In the first half we were giving Old Dominion too much room, and they have two players up front that are pretty darn fast. So we tightened up a little bit in the second half, and things were better for us.”

Shelton said she felt Old Dominion outplayed UNC for periods of the game but that the Tar Heels showed resiliency to battle back and gain a foothold.

“It wasn’t a pretty game by any means,” Shelton said. “It was kind of ugly.”

Falgowski, who played on the U.S. national team in the Pan-American Games in Mexico, did not have a chance to practice with the team before this game, so Shelton said Falgowski started the game as a forward instead of her normal role in midfield.

“But in the end, we did drop her back into her normal role in the midfield,” Shelton said. “And she was stellar.”

Falgowski’s assist on Van Sickle’s game-winner was the 58th of her career, which tied her for the all-time career assist leader in UNC history.

“She basically won the gold medal for the U.S., got on a plane the next morning to join us to be here for this game,” Shelton said. “She was brilliant.”

The Monarchs first took the lead in the 10th minute when Kathryn Kirk scored on a two-on-one breakaway, and they maintained that 1-0 lead for the rest of the half.

With the win, the Tar Heels completed their regular season schedule with a 18-1 record and avenged their lone loss of the season, which came at the hands of the Monarchs on Sept. 16.

“It’s always good motivation to have lost to a team, and I think our kids were looking forward to the rematch,” Shelton said. “They’re just a formidable opponent, and I think they played well beyond what they did in Chapel Hill.

“So, it did require a great effort on our team to come from behind twice.”