North Carolina field hockey opens NCAA Division I season 0-2: results
Kentner Stadium at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Photo: Jana Benscoter
Expect a shake-up in the Week 1 coaches poll of the NCAA Division I field hockey season.
One of the biggest surprises of opening weekend was No. 2 North Carolina dropping two games.
The Tar Heels have historically owned the winning record in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, an opening-weekend event that has been played since 2002.
The challenge includes two Big Ten teams — Iowa and Michigan — and two ACC — North Carolina and Wake Forest.
North Carolina entered the tournament with a 37-9 record, meaning they have won the most matches in the tournament. There is no crown or outright winner.
Michigan, ranked No. 14 in the preseason, won the first contest on opening day in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Friday, Aug. 28.
Michigan’s Sofia Ghanbari scored the game-winner in overtime after her teammate Eva Bernardy scored on a penalty stroke in the third quarter. North Carolina’s Charly Bruder scored five minutes later to tie it 1-1.
Ghanbari’s goal sealed the opener for Michigan.
North Carolina then faced No. 11 Iowa. Freshman Sofia Ferri scored her first goal of the season unassisted, giving the Tar Heels the opening goal.
Dionne van Aalsum answered for the Hawkeyes with an assist from Amber Millard-Smith. The back-and-forth continued when Molly Catchpole scored for North Carolina off an assist from Bruder.
Frederique van Cleef added another goal for Iowa in the third quarter, with Jordan Byers recording the assist.
Iowa took control in the third with another goal, this time from Rachel Herbine off an assist from Lexie Haig.
Northwestern, ranked No. 1, was also tested during opening weekend. The 'Cats hosted Virginia Commonwealth on Friday, Aug. 28, and won 2-0 after scoring both goals in the second quarter.
Ella Kokinis scored off an assist from Aerin Krys, and Jessica Freedman added the second goal.
VCU stayed in the game statistically. In front of a crowd of 207, Northwestern finished with eight shots, five on goal, while VCU had four shots, two on goal.
In cage, VCU made three saves and Northwestern had two. The Wildcats also edged VCU in attacking penalty corners, earning seven compared with VCU’s four.
Against Lafayette, Freedman scored with under four minutes to play in regulation, assisted by Piper Borz.
Addison Kahn was steady in cage, allowing only one goal and staying composed under pressure. Northwestern fired 20 shots, 11 on goal, and Kahn stopped nine.
Results:
Aug. 28
Drexel 0, No. 13 Maryland 3
Central Michigan 1, UC Davis 2
Bryant 1, Quinnipiac 2
Ball State 1, Bucknell 0
James Madison 1, Temple 2
No. 10 Miami 1, Louisville 2 (upset, shootouts)
Lafayette 2, Kent State 1
No. 11 Iowa 4, No. 7 Wake Forest 3 (upset)
Providence 1, Boston College 3
Merrimack 2, Boston University 7
Georgetown 2, Davidson 1
No. 9 Syracuse 2, Fairfield 1
Villanova 2, Delaware 1
William & Mary 0, No. 6 Duke 7
American 3, California 4
New Haven 0, Colgate 5
Towson 0, Appalachian State 1
No. 18 Monmouth 5, No. 17 Rutgers 0 (upset)
Rider 1, Hofstra 2
Aug. 29
Ball State 3, Sacred Heart 2
No. 10 Miami 2, Indiana 1
No. 11 Connecticut 5, New Hampshire 0
Aug. 30
No. 9 Syracuse 3, New Hampshire 2
American 1, Stanford 3
Drexel 1, James Madison 0
Sacred Heart 1, Bucknell 2
Boston College 3, UAlbany 4
Boston University 2, Providence 3
No. 6 Duke 1, Richmond 0
Fairfield 4, Holy Cross 0
Georgetown 1, Appalachian State 2 OT
No. 18 Monmouth 1, Delaware 2 (upset)
Towson 0, Davidson 4
Louisville 2, Indiana 1 (OT)
Villanova 7, La Salle 0
Bryant 2, Hofstra 1
Central Michigan 2, California 4
No. 11 Iowa 3, No. 2 North Carolina 2 (upset)
No. 11 Connecticut 4, Saint Joseph's 1
Rider 1, Colgate 4
Virginia Commonwealth 1, Kent State 0 (OT)
St. Thomas Aquinas College 0, New Haven 4
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