Field Hockey Prepped For Games In opposition to Historic Foes

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina discipline hockey now faces a house and highway cut up weekend in opposition to colleges from the commonwealth as they welcome No. 20 Old Dominion on Friday earlier than touring to face Richmond on Sunday. 

➤ Friday’s recreation options the game’s two most storied applications. The Monarchs held the highest spot early on due to dominant runs within the 80s and 90s, however a 3 peat from 1995-97 turned the tide in the direction of the Heels. UNC’s 2020 title tied the rely at 9 apiece earlier than the ’22 and ’23 championship put Carolina two away from their historic rivals. 

➤ It will likely be simply the ninth assembly all-time on Sunday between Carolina and Richmond, who final performed one another in 2025 after which earlier than that within the NCAA Tournament in 2004. 

 

SCHEDULE

Game 1: vs. #20 Old Dominion – Friday, September 11 – 5 PM ET – ACCNX – Live Stats

Game 2: at Richmond – Sunday, September 13 – 12 PM ET – ESPN+ – Live Stats

 

#5 North Carolina Tar Heels (2-2)(0-0 ACC)

Head Coach: Erin Matson

Record at UNC: 61-8

Record vs. ODU: 3-0

Record vs. Richmond: 1-0

 

#20 Old Dominion Monarchs (3-1)(0-0 Big East)

Head Coach: Andrew Griffiths

Record at ODU: 142-97

Record vs. UNC: 0-9

 

Richmond Spiders (3-1)(0-0 A10)

Head Coach: Martu Loncarica

Record at Richmond: 26-17

Record vs. UNC: 0-1

BOUT HOW YOU GET BACK UP

➤ The Heels bounced again properly from a troublesome opening weekend by choosing up two huge wins in opposition to Penn and No. 2 Princeton in week two of the 2026 season. 

➤ It was a dominant efficiency on Friday evening in opposition to the Quakers, as Carolina scored seven in choosing up their first victory of the season. Charly Bruder and Sofia Ferri each knocked in two to assist UNC to its fourth time scoring seven or extra underneath head coach Erin Matson‘s management.

➤ Sunday was the headliner on ACC Network because the Heels confronted the No. 2 Tigers. It was a tense match that wanted heroics in aim from Merritt Skubisz to maintain issues stage. No rating might be present in regulation or the additional time interval, so it went to shootouts the place Coco Courtright, Reese Anetsberger, and Ferri completed off their makes an attempt to present Carolina the win.

 

HEELS SWEEP ACC POTW AWARDS

➤ Following an extremely spectacular pair of performances over the weekend, Carolina’s Sofia Ferri and Merritt Skubisz each claimed ACC Player of the Week honors on September 8. 

➤ Ferri, primarily a holding/defensive midfielder, gained the offensive award for a pair of targets on Friday in opposition to Penn earlier than placing the decisive penalty shootout rating away to beat No. 2 Princeton on Sunday. 

➤ Skubisz was unbelievable in aim all weekend, holding a shutout in each video games throughout 135+ minutes of play. A full extension stick save simply earlier than halftime in opposition to the Tigers was the play of the season to date. She additionally denied the primary three of Princeton’s shootout makes an attempt to place UNC in prime place for the win. 

THE FORTRESS SHELTON

➤ Karen Shelton Stadium formally opened August 25, 2018 and has been host to numerous Carolina Field Hockey core recollections since then.

➤ Named after the Heels’ corridor of fame coach of 42 seasons, it’s the solely UNC athletic taking part in facility named in honor of a girl and was simply the second  time in class historical past that a person coached in a facility named for themselves.

➤ KSS has performed host to quite a few postseason contests, together with the 2018 ACC Championship in addition to the 2020 & 2023 NCAA Championships (the Tar Heels gained all three tournaments). 

➤ It took greater than three years and 42 whole video games earlier than UNC took its first loss in KSS, by the hands of Liberty on Oct. 10, 2021. 

➤ The group is 76-4 within the now 9 seasons of play within the place they affectionately discuss with as “Blue Heaven.”