It is the first trip to Evanston for the program since 1987 and just their second time in the last nine seasons having to travel for the first and second round of the NCAA tournament. UNC is drawn against the RedHawks in the first round, its first game against the 2026 MAC Champions since 2021.
SCHEDULE
First Round: vs. Miami – Friday, November 13 – 3:30 PM ET – ESPN+ – Live Stats
Second Round (with a win): Sunday, November 15 – 2 PM ET – ESPN+ – Live Stats
#8 North Carolina Tar Heels (12-7)(6-2 ACC)
Head Coach: Erin Matson
Record at UNC: 71-13
Record vs. Miami: 0-0
Miami RedHawks (15-4)(8-1 MAC)
Head Coach: Inako Puzo
Record at Miami: 202-133
Record vs. UNC: 0-4
AUGUST. SEPTEMBER. OCTOBER. CAROLINA.
➤ We have officially entered the field hockey postseason. The whole of November has historically been dominated by the North Carolina Tar Heels.
➤ The stretch run typically kicks off with their complete control of the ACC. The Tar Heels have now won 28 ACC Championships, more than all of the other programs combined.
➤ No current member has more than four titles (Wake Forest). Former ACC constituent Maryland won 10.
➤ UNC was knocked off in the ACC Tournament semifinals this season, ending a run of nine consecutive championships.
➤ The next step along the journey is the NCAA tournament, a place the Heels have long known success. Carolina has won 11 national championships, more than any other program in the sport’s history.
➤ The last decade has also been almost all Carolina. The team has claimed five of the last eight titles.
➤ UNC holds an 85-31 all-time record in the tourney.
➤ This year Carolina earned the No. 8 national seed, a first for the program and for the sport. This is the first season the NCAA Field Hockey Selection Committee has seeded out 1-8 rather than just 1-4.
➤ The Heels’ coach Erin Matson is obviously no stranger to this tournament, winning four times as a player before claiming another in her first year coaching.
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: UNC 5-0
Current Streak: W5
Chapel Hill: 3-0
Away: 1-0
Neutral Site: 1-0
First Meeting: 9/23/2003
FHOCKEY HEELS VS. THE REDHAWKS
➤ Friday’s game will be the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs.
➤ It will be the first postseason matchup in the series and just the second at a neutral site.
➤ In 2014 the pair played in Louisville.
➤ Last time they met: In Erin Matson‘s senior (but not final) season as a player, the Heels hosted the Redhawks in their home opener tune up before conference play and came away with a 7-2 victory.
➤ Matson had a goal and two assists in the contest.
➤ Eight different players had at least one goal or assist in the win.
➤ Carolina forward Reese Anetsberger is back home in the Chicago-land area. She graduated from Glenbrook North, which is about 11 miles from from where she will be playing this weekend.
➤ She played for the same club team as Miami’s Malena Batisteza.
NINE TIME DEFENDING CHAMPS FALL SHORT IN ACC TOURNEY
➤ The Heels failed to win the ACC Field Hockey Championship for the first time since losing in the final in 2016, ending a streak that included nine consecutive tournament titles in hockey’s toughest conference.
➤ Hosting the tournament for the first time since 2020, Carolina started the week strong with a 6-0 win over Stanford in the quarterfinals.
➤ Charly Bruder scored in just 33 seconds and Ryleigh Heck added two more in the first half to put the game away. Sofia Ferri, Coco Courtrightand Hope Haynes added three more after the break.
➤ In the semifinal against No. 16 Syracuse, Carolina dominated the game but just didn’t get enough goals.
➤ The Heels out shot the Orange 22-5 but were tied 2-2 at the end of overtime. From there, Syracuse won in the penalty shootout and would go on to win their first ACC title as a program.
Source: goheels.com
