Sunday, November 8
Charlottesville, Va.
1 p.m.
Syracuse University
1
vs
2
#3 North Carolina
Tar Heels Hand Orange First Loss in ACC Final
11/8/2015 3:18:00 PM | Field Hockey
UNC defeats Syracsue 2-1 in overtime.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. – The No. 3 North Carolina field hockey team handed the No. 1 Orange (17-1) its first loss of the year and claimed the ACC Championship in a 2-1 overtime win on Sunday.
The Orange rallied from an early deficit, but the Tar Heels kept Syracuse's chances to end the game at bay and capitalized with 6:43 remaining in the first overtime to capture the ACC Championship.
Casey Di Nardo got the Tar Heels on the board first by firing a low backhand shot from just inside of the circle early on in the first half, but Syracuse rallied to even it up.
With just-over 26 minutes remaining in regulation, senior Emma Russell drove into the circle and was taken down by a Carolina defender, for which the Orange was rewarded with a penalty stroke.
ACC Freshman of the Year calmly stepped up and fired a shot past Tar Heels' goalkeeper Shannon Johnson for the equalizer.
The Orange and Tar Heels would go back and forth for the remaining minutes of regulation before Syracuse had a pair of corner opportunities with no time left on the clock.
The first opportunity was tipped toward the net by Laura Hurff, but struck a Carolina player on its way into the net, for which Syracuse was given a second corner.
UNC turned away the second opportunity and sent the game to overtime.
Midway through the first overtime, sophomore Laura Hurff had back-to-back breakaway chances, both times Johnson came out of her cage and collided with Hurff. On the second chance, Hurff asked for a video referral and was rewarded with a stroke.
Weers once again stepped up to take the chance but Johnson got just enough of her stick on Weers' attempt that the ball sailed off the post and the game continued.
Just over one minute later, North Carolina's Gab Major ended the contest after collision in front of the net kept senior goalkeeper Jess Jecko down.
The Orange put 11 shots on net to the Tar Heels' seven and also had seven corners to Carolina's three.
Jecko made five saves on the day for 'Cuse.
Senior Alyssa Manley, and sophomores Lies Lagerweij and Laura Hurff were named to the ACC All-Tournament Team. It's Manley's third time receiving the honor in her career.
Syracuse will next play in the NCAA Tournament, finding out its potential opponents on the NCAA's Selection Show tonight at 10 p.m.
The Orange rallied from an early deficit, but the Tar Heels kept Syracuse's chances to end the game at bay and capitalized with 6:43 remaining in the first overtime to capture the ACC Championship.
Casey Di Nardo got the Tar Heels on the board first by firing a low backhand shot from just inside of the circle early on in the first half, but Syracuse rallied to even it up.
With just-over 26 minutes remaining in regulation, senior Emma Russell drove into the circle and was taken down by a Carolina defender, for which the Orange was rewarded with a penalty stroke.
ACC Freshman of the Year calmly stepped up and fired a shot past Tar Heels' goalkeeper Shannon Johnson for the equalizer.
The Orange and Tar Heels would go back and forth for the remaining minutes of regulation before Syracuse had a pair of corner opportunities with no time left on the clock.
The first opportunity was tipped toward the net by Laura Hurff, but struck a Carolina player on its way into the net, for which Syracuse was given a second corner.
UNC turned away the second opportunity and sent the game to overtime.
Midway through the first overtime, sophomore Laura Hurff had back-to-back breakaway chances, both times Johnson came out of her cage and collided with Hurff. On the second chance, Hurff asked for a video referral and was rewarded with a stroke.
Weers once again stepped up to take the chance but Johnson got just enough of her stick on Weers' attempt that the ball sailed off the post and the game continued.
Just over one minute later, North Carolina's Gab Major ended the contest after collision in front of the net kept senior goalkeeper Jess Jecko down.
The Orange put 11 shots on net to the Tar Heels' seven and also had seven corners to Carolina's three.
Jecko made five saves on the day for 'Cuse.
Senior Alyssa Manley, and sophomores Lies Lagerweij and Laura Hurff were named to the ACC All-Tournament Team. It's Manley's third time receiving the honor in her career.
Syracuse will next play in the NCAA Tournament, finding out its potential opponents on the NCAA's Selection Show tonight at 10 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
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