The No. 2 North Carolina field hockey team (2-0) defeated the No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes (1-1), 2-1, on Sunday in Michigan.
After much back-and-forth action to open the first quarter, the first shot attempt came nine minutes into the game from junior midfielder Molly Catchpole. After gaining the ball back, UNC’s Ryleigh Heck attempted a goal again, only to be blocked by goalie Mia Magnotta. Magnotta struck again seconds later when she blocked a shot from fifth-year back Katie Dixon off of a penalty corner.
“We have to be comfortable with a goalkeeper that's going to have 20-something saves,” head coach Erin Matson said. “And we still have to make sure that we're burying every chance we create and every opportunity we get.”
Seconds before the end of the first quarter, Iowa registered their first shot attempt, only to be blocked by senior goalkeeper Abigail Taylor.
North Carolina recorded many shot attempts and penalty corners from Heck, fifth-year back Ciana Riccardo and senior forward Lisa Slinkert in the second quarter, but tallied no goals.
“We did everything right 95 percent of the time, which you never hear,” Matson said. “And it feels like we're unsatisfied, and I think it's because of that we just have to put it away.”
Going into the second half, UNC had 14 shots compared to Iowa's singular shot attempt. The Tar Heels also held the advantage in penalty corners with seven, while the Hawkeyes failed to force a single one.
UNC came out with fire in the second half, scoring two goals in the opening minutes of play. Sophomore forward Charly Bruder capitalized off of a clean look, followed seconds later by an assist from Heck to lead to a goal for sophomore forward Sanne Hak.
“They felt really connected,” Matson said. “It was purely just their mindset of going out and, ‘Okay, keep dictating. Don't get satisfied with it and don't get complacent.’”
