On Sunday, the top-ranked UNC field hockey team (14-0, 5-0 ACC) remained unbeaten as it defeated No. 9 Saint Joseph’s (12-3, 6-0 A-10) 6-0 on Senior Day at Karen Shelton Stadium.
What happened?
The Tar Heels came out fast and aggressive on offense. Following a well-placed pass through the air by senior forward Erin Matson, first-year forward and midfielder Ryleigh Heck — the reigning NFHCA National Offensive Player of the Week — floated the ball over top of the defense for UNC’s first goal of the day.
Continuing the attack on offense, Matson scored the Tar Heels' second goal of the first quarter.
UNC’s third and final goal of the first quarter came from sophomore forward and midfielder Kennedy Cliggett, who scored off a backward assist from Matson as she was approaching the baseline. The assist for Matson, her 58th, tied her with Joy Driscoll for the second most in school history.
To begin the second quarter, UNC chipped away at Saint Joseph’s defense, scoring after multiple shot attempts on a penalty corner as senior forward Paityn Wirth scored off an assist from sophomore midfielder Jasmina Smolenaars.
Building off a 4-0 lead at the half, the Tar Heels began the third quarter with Heck’s second goal of the day, assisted by Matson. The assist awarded Matson sole possession of second place in school history for career assists.
Saint Joseph’s nearly scored off a penalty corner in the final seconds of the third quarter but came up shy in what was its closest attempt at a goal.
UNC added a sixth and final goal at the start of the fourth quarter as Heck scored and completed her second hat trick in the last three games, scoring off another assist from Matson.
