After trailing 3-0 at halftime, the No. 5 North Carolina field hockey team (6-4, 1-1 ACC) fell to No. 11 Syracuse (7-2, 2-0 ACC), 5-0, on the road in an offensive standstill on Friday.
What happened?
Not even 10 minutes into play, the Orange bounced its first ball into the cage over UNC first-year goalkeeper Abigail Taylor’s head. Just three minutes later, Syracuse snuck the ball inside the circle between the legs of UNC first-year back Kelly Smith and set it up for Syracuse forward Hailey Bitters to tap the ball into the net.
Though North Carolina drew five penalty corners in the second quarter, the Tar Heels failed to capitalize and remained scoreless in the first half. In the Orange’s second of three corners in that quarter, they shot the ball straight to the left corner of the cage to build a 3-0 lead entering halftime.
The third period was quiet for both teams as UNC managed to save all three of Syracuse’s corner attempts, but failed to convert on either of its two shots.
In the fourth, the Tar Heels let in two more goals — the first crossed from outside of the circle and the second off an intercepted UNC pass and a backhanded shot to chip the ball into the net. After struggling to find any offensive production, the Tar Heels fell, 5-0.
Who stood out?
First-year midfielder Jasmina Smolenaars put up four shots and UNC’s only shot on goal in the evening. Senior forward Erin Matson matched Smolenaars with four shots of her own.
Despite allowing five goals, Taylor had five saves in the game — her second-highest of the season behind her seven-save performance against Princeton.
