UNC Field Hockey Wins National Championship In Overtime

The UNC Field Hockey Program won their eleventh National Championship and fifth in the last six years on Sunday afternoon!

In a back-and-forth affair with the No.2 Northwestern Wildcats on Sunday afternoon, the UNC Field Hockey program came out victorious at Karen Shelton Stadium to win the program’s eleventh National Championship and the fifth in the last six years. It is also the first National Championship as a coach for first-year head coach Erin Matson.

The Tar Heels grabbed the lead 1-0 early in the second half with 12:27 remaining in the third quarter after both teams entered the intermission tied at zero. A goal from freshman Charly Bruder gave North Carolina the lead.

After a penalty on UNC Field Hockey and during a corner shot for Northwestern, the Wildcats were able to answer with the tying goal on a penalty shot late in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter had excitement with reviews and almost scores for both teams, including a corner shot for Northwestern that was converted for a goal with less than a minute to play, but a penalty was called on the Wildcats, allowing the game to stay tied and head to overtime.

The last time the Tar Heels played an overtime game in the NCAA Tournament was three years ago in the 2020 National Championship against Michigan. Current UNC Field Hockey head coach Erin Matson scored the game-winning goal in that game to secure the Tar Heels their ninth National Championship at the time.

With 2:17 to go in overtime, Northwestern was called for a penalty stroke, and sophomore Ryleigh Heck had a chance to win the game; however, a save by one of the best goalkeepers in the country for Northwestern off the post extended the game to another overtime period.

The Wildcats had two different breakaways where they had two-versus-one situations to score the game-winning goal, and both times, UNC Field Hockey graduate senior goalkeeper Maddie Kahn made two amazing saves to keep the game alive.

The game would stay tied after the second overtime period and head to a shoot-out to determine a National Champion. It is just the third time a NCAA National Championship game has ever gone to a shoot-out.

The format is each team chooses five players to shoot one-on-one against the opponent’s goalkeeper, with a coin toss determining which team goes first. The team with the most goals after five attempts, wins the game. If it is tied after five attempts, then it moves to a second round that is determined by sudden victory (the first team to score and stop the other one wins).

After the first four attempts, the two teams were tied at 2 goals a piece, with both goalies making huge plays for each team. The Tar Heels and Wildcats both had opportunities on their fifth attempts, but neither could convert, and we headed to the sudden victory format.

The Wildcats went first and missed their chance. And then Ryleigh Heck did this…

It was an amazing game and atmosphere at Karen Shelton Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels won another National Championship.

Erin Matson becomes the youngest head coach to win a National Championship at the age of 23 and did so in her first year as head coach of the UNC Field Hockey Program. The most decorated athlete of her sport led the Tar Heels to four National Championships in five years during her time in Chapel Hill as a player. With the National Championship win on Sunday afternoon, she also becomes the first ever to win consecutive National Championships as a player and coach.

The University of National Champions have another trophy to add to the case, and as always, it’s a Great Day To Be A Tar Heel!

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