No. 1 seed UNC field hockey falls to No. 4 seed Saint Joseph's, 2-1, in the semifinal of the NCAA tournament

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In the NCAA semifinals, No. 1 seeded North Carolina field hockey (20-1) fell to No. 4 seeded Saint Joseph's (20-3), 2-1, on Friday at Phyllis Ocker Field to end UNC's season and run in the tournament. 

In its 28th appearance in the Final Four, the Tar Heels fell behind in the 22nd minute for the first time all season and for the first time in an NCAA tournament since 2022. With that early deficit, North Carolina never rebounded. 

“This one hurts because of how hard this team worked, how elite this team played and how much this team loves each other,” head coach Erin Matson said.  

The score remained deadlocked after one quarter of play. Despite several opportunities, including two back-to-back penalty corners, UNC failed to capitalize.

In the sixth minute, junior forward Ryleigh Heck had a promising look, breaking away from defenders at the top left of the circle and striking the ball toward the goal. The SJU goalkeeper, Marith Bijkerk, had to make the save in a split. 

When Saint Joseph's earned a fast break opportunity as the seconds dwindled off the clock, redshirt first-year back Hope Haynes flattened her stick on the turf to block the ball right in front of the goal. 

Opening the second quarter, senior goalkeeper Abigail Taylor faced another SJU attack, but she blocked the corresponding shot with her face mask. 

For the first time all season, UNC fell into a deficit. In the 22nd minute, a wild ball was collected by Saint Joseph's Manu Ghigliotti inside the circle, steadied and then shot over her shoulder into the back of the cage.

The Hawks continued knocking on the door for another score, drawing a penalty corner in the 27th minute. However, Taylor made the save with her chest, kicking it out of the circle. 

At the end of the first half, Saint Joseph's held onto its 1-0 lead.

"When that happened, it was the message of, 'This is good for us, this is going to make us stronger,'" Matson said. "There was no time — we didn't allow it as a staff, but even from the team and the senior leadership — of freaking out or getting frantic or thinking about the outcome. It was just one goal at a time."

In the 36th minute, SJU drew two consecutive corners. Fifth-year back Ciana Riccardo got a stick on the first ball to prevent the score. On the next opportunity, the ball was slung to Taylor, who batted it down with her glove, right to an awaiting Ghigliotti, who tapped it in. Saint Joseph's took a 2-0 advantage. The momentum tilted completely in the Hawks' favor. 

SJU's onslaught continued, drawing corners, tackling balls for fast breaks up the field and choking any UNC progress into the circle to maintain pressure on the North Carolina defense. 

With 8.4 seconds left in the third quarter, North Carolina secured a penalty corner and returned to its roots. Sophomore forward Charly Bruder received the insert at the top of the circle, tapped it inside once and then rocketed a shot into the back of the cage. She stomped her foot on the turf and let out a screech.

UNC decreased the deficit to 2-1.

Five minutes into the final quarter, the Tar Heels earned another corner, but Bruder's shot was deflected above the goal.

With eight minutes to go, North Carolina emptied the goal to add another attacking player, senior forward Lisa Slinkert,on field.

UNC drew a corner in the 54th minute, but SJU logged another defensive save. The fight continued as the Tar Heels pressed upfield, attempting to fire off shots before the clock ran out. Saint Joseph's defense remained solid, holding off North Carolina's last-ditch attacks.

Earning another corner with less than a minute and half to go, Bruder's shot was deflected wide.

SJU held off UNC's final press, effectively ending North Carolina's season and breaking its undefeated record. 

"For those that are done, I think they're so proud, and I hope they are, even if they're not right now that they will be," Matson said. "For those that get to come back, we love some motivation. We just want to make sure that they don't feel like this season is a failure because it is far from it."

@carolinewills03

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