Field Hockey

Tar Heels Return to NCAA Field Hockey Title Game

BC Recap: https://theacc.co/BCfh19
UNC Recap: https://theacc.co/NCfh19
Virginia Recap: https://theacc.co/VAfh19

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C (theACC.com) – North Carolina is 60 minutes away from a second consecutive NCAA Field Hockey title, but Princeton figures to provide a stern test in Sunday’s national championship game.

ACC Offensive Player of the Year Erin Matson’s four goals led the unbeaten Tar Heels to a 6-3 win over fellow league representative Boston College in Friday’s first semifinal at Kentner Stadium.

Virginia made a strong bid to make Sunday’s title game an all-ACC affair, but Princeton used a second-half goal and a stout defensive effort to fend off the Cavaliers, 2-1.

Sunday will mark the 20th time in the last 21 NCAA Field Hockey Championships – and the 28th time in the last 31 years – that the ACC has placed at least one team in the title game.

North Carolina (22-0) and Princeton (16-4) met Sept. 6 in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels trailed 3-1 in the fourth quarter but rallied behind Matson with three goals in the closing minutes and escaped with a 4-3 win.

The Tigers have since won four games versus ACC teams, defeating Wake Forest and Duke (in overtime) during the regular season, and downing Syracuse 5-1 in the first round of NCAA play before edging the Cavaliers in the semifinals Friday.

ACC teams have won 19 national championships, including 12 of the last 18.
 
Other items of note heading into Sunday’s 1 p.m. finale:

- The Tar Heels own seven of the ACC’s 19 NCAA titles, all under the watch of veteran head coach Karen Shelton … UNC will be playing in its 19th NCAA final on Sunday afternoon … The Tar Heels are 69-28 all-time in NCAA Tournament play.

- North Carolina is riding an ACC-record 45-match winning streak that dates to last season. UNC’s current freshmen and sophomores have yet to lose a college match.

- Boston College, led by ACC Coach of the Year Kelly Doton stood 4-5 at one stretch of the season, but went 11-3 the remainder of the way to finish 15-8, with all three losses coming to top-ranked North Carolina … The Eagles’ closing surge produced a program-best tie for second place in the ACC regular-season standings and a runner-up finish in the ACC Field Hockey Championship earlier this month.

- Virginia (18-5) appeared in the NCAA semifinals for the fifth time in program history … Coach Michele Madison’s team won 10 of its final 12 matches, with both losses coming by a single goal.

- The ACC led all conferences with six total teams selected this this year’s 18-team NCAA Field Hockey Championship field … It marked the seventh consecutive year that at least four teams were selected for postseason play.

- All-time NCAA tournament appearances for ACC teams (including this season): North Carolina 36, Virginia 24, Duke 18, Wake Forest 17, Syracuse 14, Boston College 12, Louisville 7.
 
- ACC teams own a 76-16 record against non-conference opposition in 2019, including a 6-3 mark in NCAA tournament games.
 
- Over the last six years, ACC teams own 175 wins over ranked non-conference opponents.