Coach Karen Shelton said her North Carolina women’s field hockey team would have to measure up against an imposing meter stick Friday night in the form of rival Old Dominion.
UNC wouldn’t need a stepladder to contend. The No. 1 Tar Heels dispatched No. 15 ODU in a surgical 3-0 win at Henry Stadium.
Emma Bozek, a sophomore midfielder and UNC’s leading goal scorer with four tallies, potted two goals in the opening seven minutes to place UNC (5-0) firmly in the lead. Bozek deflected a bouncing shot from senior Meghan Drake into the upper reaches of the net, then poked in a loose ball through the legs of ODU goalkeeper Megan Hept three minutes later.
Loren Shealy scored with about two minutes remaining in regulation to top off the shutout win. The junior forward cranked a searing shot inside the near post for her third goal in five games.
UNC held the Lady Monarchs (1-4) to just one shot in a nondescript first half, obliging junior goalkeeper Sassi Ammer to make a solitary sprawling save off a penalty corner.
ODU awakened from their first-half fog and pressed the Tar Heels in the second half, but couldn’t cobble together an attack to test the sure-handed Ammer. Ammer fought off a dangerous bouncing shot with about 14 minutes remaining in regulation, then watched from afar as UNC’s backline stifled the Lady Monarchs.
Note: Junior Abby Frey has a sprained wrist and did not play. She is day to day.
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