No. 2 UNC field hockey cruises past No. 4 Virginia, 4-0, with Bruder hat trick

The No. 2 North Carolina field hockey team (13-0, 6-0 ACC) defeated No. 4 Virginia (12-3, 5-2 ACC), 4-0, at Karen Shelton Stadium on Friday evening. 

Behind another hat trick — her third of the season — sophomore forward Charly Bruder led the Tar Heels in their win over the Cavaliers. Senior back Kelly Smith and graduate back Ciana Riccardo anchored the defensive shutout with deflections and pass breakups, not allowing UVA to take a single shot. 

The first quarter went by with a fast pace and high intensity, but ended with a score of 0-0. Bruder took the only shot two minutes into the game, which went wide.

UVA dominated possession throughout the second quarter. Inside the circle, senior goalkeeper Abigail Taylor snuffed a pass to keep the Cavaliers off the board in the first eight minutes. 

“UVA is always really great at getting to the 50-50 ball,” head coach Erin Matson said. “They’ve been really good at making it messy and just getting in touch.”

During a one-on-one opportunity with two minutes left in the half, junior forward Ryleigh Heck lured the goalkeeper out of the box with her downfield attack. She scooped her stick under the ball and the ball flew into the goal with a spin, pushing UNC ahead 1-0.  

“I just took my time and just trusted my skill, and thankfully it went in,” Heck said. 

On a penalty corner opportunity less than a minute into the second half, graduate forward Pluen Lammers inserted the ball and Bruder took a shot, eventually getting stifled by the Virginia defense. 

Given another penalty corner, Lammers installed again. Smith stopped the ball, and Bruder swung it straight into the back of the net. North Carolina's lead increased to 2-0. 

After UVA’s Meghen Hengerer received a yellow card for tripping UNC junior midfielder Sietske Bruning, UNC was awarded another penalty corner. The Tar Heels capitalized, with Bruder getting her second goal of the game off the insert from Lammers and the assist from graduate midfielder Katie Dixon. 

With ten minutes to go, Lammers inserted another UNC penalty corner. Dixon stopped the ball, allowing Bruder to hack it in for her third goal of the game. 

“Penalty corners was the way that we knew we could break them,” Bruder said. 

The Tar Heel defense remained tight in the final minutes of the game, blocking UVA’s four penalty corner opportunities. 

“We always say it's like a team effort, so you defend from the front line, and the forwards did just that,” sophomore back Grace Pottebaum said. “Everybody really contributed to having zero shots.”

UNC will play again on Sunday when the Tar Heels take on No. 6 Boston College at noon. 

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