Mendonca's Game-Winner Upsets No. 3 Carolina

NEWTON, Mass. – The Eagles scored two unanswered goals – including the second-half game-winner – as the No. 18 Boston College field hockey team upset No. 3 North Carolina on Friday afternoon at the Newton Field Hockey Complex. Freshman Brigid Wood scored her first career goal to level the score in the first half, before junior Chelcie Mendonca tallied the game-winner in the second half to cap Eagles' the victory.

Today's win was Boston College's first over the Tar Heels since 2008, snapping a string of eight-straight UNC wins. The defending ACC champions – and national runners-up – went ahead 18 minutes into the game, but Wood answered at 26:26 and Mendonca put the Eagles head for good at 54:44. The Eagles now stand at 2-14 all-time against the Tar Heels.

Boston College withstood heavy UNC pressure as the second half wore on, with Carolina out-shooting the Eagles 12-4 in the frame. The Tar Heels had a pair of chances to score the equalizer with under two minutes to play, gaining a pair of penalty corners – including one with time expired – but the Eagles' defense stood tall. All of BC goalkeeper Audra Hampsch's four saves came in the second half.

BC (3-3, 1-1 ACC) returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 18 when the Eagles travel to play Northeastern at 2 p.m. at the Huskies' Dedham Field in Dedham, Mass.

No. 18 Boston College 2, No. 3 North Carolina 1
Friday, September 16, 2016
Newton Field Hockey Complex | Newton, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED
GOAL: UNC 1, BC 0 at 17:34 … Off a broken penalty corner, Ashley Hoffman gained control of the ball in traffic and played Lauren Moyer deep for the goal.
GOAL: BC 1, UNC 1 at 26:26 … After a restart, the Eagles worked the ball deep in the circle with the Tar Heels trying to push the ball under goalkeeper Shannon Johnson. But the ball wasn't never covered and Brigid Wood got control of a rebound and pushed it into the cage.
GOAL: BC 2, UNC 1 at 54:55 … Off a penalty corner, the Eagles maintained control and pushed deeper in the circle. With BC pushing for the goal, Chelcie Mendonca got the ball and found space between Alex Halpin's legs for the go-ahead goal.
North Carolina earned a pair of penalty corners with under two minutes to play – including one with time expired. The Eagles' defense successfully defended both and, after a UNC foul in the circle on the second attempt, BC claimed the victory.

QUOTEABLE
Head coach Kelly Doton
"(Possession) was critical. A turnover can lead to a goal pretty quickly in this sport, especially to a team like Carolina. We had to possess the ball, specifically in the defensive zone. They have a lot of great goal scorers and create a lot of goal-scoring opportunities. One mental mistake on defense could've led to a goal. The shot selection by them – they had some opportunities in there. Our defense held and Audra did a great job in goal … Our defensive penalty corner unit came through huge. And again, the type of corners we saw on film that Carolina can execute – it was a big opportunity for them. Luckily these guys stepped up to the plate."

GAME NOTES

Brigid Wood scored her first career goal in today's game
Chelcie Mendonca claimed her first goal of the season and just the second goal of her career … her only ever goal came on Sept. 27, 2015 in a 3-2 victory at Liberty
Audra Hampsch made four saves in her first-ever ACC win
Eryn McCoy led the Eagles with three sots
The Eagles were out-shot 16-10, and UNC earned 8 corners to BC's 5
Boston College's win over UNC was the team's first since 2008 and just its second-ever in program history ... BC is now 2-14 all-time against the Tar Heels

Records: Boston College (3-3, 1-1 ACC), North Carolina (5-2, 1-1 ACC)
Attendance: 514

Mendonca's Game-Winner Upsets No. 3 Carolina

Players Mentioned

Audra Hampsch

Eryn McCoy

Brigid Wood

Players Mentioned

Audra Hampsch

Eryn McCoy

Brigid Wood