CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –The No. 14 Virginia field hockey team (10-7, 3-3 ACC) fell 3-2 in overtime against No. 10 North Carolina (10-6, 4-2 ACC) on Friday (Oct. 29) at Turf Field in Charlottesville, Va.

The Tar Heels jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Cavaliers tied it up on a goal by Laura Janssen just before halftime. Erin Matson scored all three of the Tar Heels’ goals, including the game-winner 4:31 into overtime.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Tar Heels got on the scoreboard with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter on a field goal from Matson. She added a second goal three minutes into the second quarter, scoring off a penalty corner. Virginia quickly got back into the game, with Makayla Gallen scoring a minute and a half later on a second-chance goal. Janssen knotted the game at two when she lifted a shot over the goalie’s shoulder into the upper corner of the net with 2:24 remaining in the first half.

The second half was a battle in the midfield, with each team taking just three shots apiece.

Just over four minutes into the overtime period, Matson found open space and fired off a shot on goal. Tyler Kennedy made an initial save, but Matson got the rebound and shot the ball directly into the cage for the game-winner.

NOTES

  • North Carolina had a 13-10 edge in shots, including a 3-0 advantage in overtimes
  •  UNC held a 6-2 advantage in penalty corners
  • Tyler Kennedy made five saves for UVA. Abigail Taylor had two saves for UNC
  • Makayla Gallen’s goal was her third of the year
  • Laura Janssen’s goal was her fourth of the season
  • This was the first time Erin Matson had played since suffering an injury in the Oct. 8 game against Duke
  • Virginia finishes the season tied for fourth in the conference but will be the No. 5 seed in the ACC Championship by virtue of a tiebreaker with Boston College

FROM HEAD COACH MICHELE MADISON

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so we’re going to be really, really strong in the ACC tournament. And definitely hungry. I couldn’t be more proud of the entire team but especially the seniors and how they carried the team tonight – emotionally and field hockey-wise. We didn’t get the result we wanted, but we played a great game.”

ON THE HORIZON

  • The 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Championship will be held Nov. 4-7 at J.S. Coyne Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y.
  • Virginia will play Boston College in the first game of the championship on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.
  • The winner of that quarterfinal will advance to take on top-seeded Louisville on Friday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.