UNC Field Hockey: Erin Matson earns first career coaching victory

A new era began on Friday night for the UNC Field Hockey program as first-time head coach Erin Matson faced Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Former UNC field hockey great Erin Matson began her head coaching career on Friday night at the helm for the Tar Heels.

Matson belongs on the Mount Rushmore of great Tar Heel athletes for everything she accomplished during her career, so it is no surprise that her first game as a head coach began the same way she ended her playing career… with a win.

Recently renovated Karen Shelton Stadium was packed as a sold-out, standing-room-only record crowd was in attendance for Matson’s first game as the head coach of the UNC field hockey.

The Tar Heels started slowly against the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines, getting behind 1-0 in the first period. The Carolina offense came to life, though, in the second period, scoring all three of their goals in the period and taking a 3-1 lead into the halftime break.

The third period was a defensive battle, and no goals were scored. The Wolverines scored with just under four minutes to play to make it 3-2 but were not able to get any closer, and the Tar Heels secured Matson’s first career win against the No. 4 team in the country.

The Tar Heels will face Iowa on Sunday at 1:00 PM in the second game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Hawkeyes beat Wake Forest on Friday night, 4-0.

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