Box Score Score: No. 1 North Carolina: 4 | No. 21 UAlbany: 1
Location: Albany, N.Y. – Alumni Turf
Records: No. 21 UAlbany (9-5) | North Carolina (12-0)
Short story: The No. 21 UAlbany field hockey team took an early lead against top-ranked North Carolina but ultimately fell to the Tar Heels, 4-1, in a top-25 matchup on Sunday afternoon.
Head Coach Phil Sykes: "There are a lot of positives to take away from today. When you go into big games like this there are initially a lot of nerves and sometimes you tend to build things up way too much in your head and there's a calming down period. Once the second half came we calmed down and played well. They are a very talented team and they have one of the best players in the nation and anytime she gets the ball she is a threat. Overall, I am very happy with the way we played. We attacked and scored first and we played hard."
Key stats
Recap
Hanna Zarrilli logged her first collegiate goal, as the No. 21 UAlbany field hockey team was defeated, 4-1, by No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
The Great Danes struck first in the opening quarter with a goal from Zarrilli in the 7th minute. UAlbany outshot the Tar Heels, 4-1, in the opening frame and carried a 1-0 edge into the second.
North Carolina retaliated with three unanswered goals in the second quarter. Erin Matson scored at 18:04 and Yentle Leemans added another at 25:35 to give the Tar Heels a 2-1 edge. Matson struck again in the final minute of the quarter for the 3-1 advantage.
UAlbany came out hot in the fourth quarter ripping off three shots in the opening two minutes but could not break through North Carolina's tough defense.
The Tar Heels put the game out of reach with its fourth and final goal in the 54th minute. Again, it was Matson who found the back of the cage, as the Tar Heel now leads the nation with 20 goals.
Up next: The Great Danes are back in action on Friday, October 18, at No. 25 Monmouth. The contest is slated to begin at 2 p.m.
