The No. 2 UNC field hockey team (9-1, 3-1 ACC) defeated Boston College (3-6, 0-3 ACC), 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Newton Field Hockey Complex.
After recording their first loss of the season in a 2-1 overtime battle against Wake Forest Friday, the Tar Heels bounced back, completing a comeback.
UNC began their offensive attack one minute into the game, with junior forward Charly Bruder taking a shot off a penalty corner. The Tar Heels continued to maintain possession but Boston College remained strong and defensively compact.
The biggest moment of the opening period came in its final seconds, when Boston College keeper Charlotte Kramer made a crucial slash on another penalty corner attempt from Bruder. A wild scramble in front of the BC goal followed, but the Eagles managed to keep Bruder’s shot out and the game scoreless.
The scrappy nature of the game carried into the second period, beginning immediately when the UNC bench was issued a yellow card. This gave Boston College a prime opportunity to capitalize, but despite transitioning well, the Eagles couldn’t break through a resilient UNC defense that held strong and kept the game scoreless.
UNC began to build offensive momentum late in the period. Bruder unleashed a powerful left-side shot off a penalty corner, quickly followed by senior forward Ryleigh Heck, who weaved through defenders in an attempt to slot one home.
With just a minute remaining in the half, UNC tried a creative penalty corner set—executing a slip pass back to the near post for a redirect—but Kramer was once again up to the task, knocking it away and keeping the score locked at 0–0.
Boston College struck first in the third period, capitalizing on a drive down the right flank before sending in a sharp cross that was finished cleanly, giving the Eagles a 1–0 lead. UNC struggled to generate offensive momentum in response, having few meaningful chances in the circle.
The Tar Heels bounced back in the fourth period, finally capitalizing on their ninth penalty corner.
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