ACC Field Hockey Match-Up Slated For Saturday
October 06, 2006 | Field Hockey
Oct. 6, 2006
Newton, Mass.--The fourth-ranked Boston College field hockey team returns to the Newton Campus Turf Field on Saturday for an ACC match-up against sixth-ranked North Carolina at 1:00 p.m. The all-time series between the Eagles and the Tar Heels is 4-0 in UNC's favor, with the last meeting being in the first round of the ACC tournament in 2005.
The Eagles enter the game with an 11-2 overall record and a 2-1 ACC record, while the `Heels (9-4) have yet to capture a conference victory in three attempts.
UNC dashed Boston College's hopes of advancing in its first ACC tournament last season by defeating the Eagles by a 2-1 score. Despite outshooting, 16-8, and outcornering, 6-3, the `Heels, the lone Eagle goal tallied by Caitlin Gillen was not enough to put up the win. UNC continued to the next round and fell to Wake Forest, 2-1, in overtime.
Boston College, who is currently riding a six game win-streak, is coming off a solid 2-1 win over 12th-ranked Providence College on Wednesday evening. The Eagles' lone struggle in the match was finding the back of the net despite pelting the Friar defense and goalkeeper with 14 shots and playing the last five minutes of the first half up a woman because of a Providence yellow card. Sophomore goalkeeper and ACC Co-Player of the Week Julia Berkowitz picked up her 11th win of the season and earned two saves.
UNC had no problem scoring last time out in a 4-0 shutout of no. 18 William & Mary on Sunday. Four different `Heels pocketed the ball in the net, including Alli Tanner, Britt van Beek, Brooke Miller and Illse Davids. The defense, who gave up four goals in a heart-breaking, 4-3 overtime loss to second-ranked Wake Forest the previous day, produced the team's fifth shutout of the year.
If the regular season were to end now, Boston College and UNC would meet in the first round of the ACC Championships in Chapel Hill on November 2 since the top two teams receive a first round bye. UNC (0-3 ACC record) still has the undefeated Maryland Terapins looming after Boston College as its final regular season conference game, while the Eagles also have a test in front of them when they host Wake Forest in the regular season finale on October 29.
