Orange Lose in ACC Semifinals

Friday, November 5

Syracuse, N.Y.

4:30 PM

Syracuse University

(13-5)

#10 North Carolina

(12-6)

North Carolina

Syracuse

11/5/2021 7:23:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

For the second-straight year UNC ended Syracuse's hopes of an Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title in the semifinals. The Tar Heels, led by ACC Offensive Player of the Year Erin Matson's hat trick, won 4-1 at J.S. Coyne Stadium on Friday night to advance to the ACC Tournament Championship against 5-seed Virginia on Sunday at noon. The Orange now wait for Sunday's NCAA Tournament selection show at 10 p.m. ET to see if they earn an at large bid for the second time in three years.

Matson's first goal of the game was off a stroke in the first minute of the second quarter. She forced a Syracuse turnover deep in the Tar Heels offensive zone in the 25th minute and turned around for a quick score to make it a 2-0 game. Just before halftime Matson found the back of the cage for a third time on a goal line pass from Hannah Griggs.

At the break, UNC held a 6-4 advantage in shots which both teams had three penalty corners a piece.

The Orange came out revived in the second half of play. They had a 6-1 shot advantage and five penalty corners in the third quarter but were unable to convert for a goal. Griggs scored a goal of her own in the 52nd minute to give UNC a 4-0 lead.

On Syracuse's third-straight penalty corner with under six minutes to play in regulation, van den Nieuwenhof scored her ninth goal of the season to cut the deficit to three goals. SJ Quigley and Tess Queen set up the play.

The Orange pressure continued through the final minutes of play but UNC held on for a 4-1 win to advance to the title game on Sunday.

Syracuse out shot UNC 12-2 in the second half and held the Tar Heels to zero penalty corners through the final 30 minutes. The Orange had 11 penalty corners to Carolina's three.

The ninth-ranked Orange now wait to find out their postseason fate. The NCAA Tournament selection show is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET on NCAA.com on Sunday, Nov. 7.

To stay updated on the Syracuse field hockey team, follow @CuseFH on Twitter and Instagram.