BOONE, N.C. - Third-ranked North Carolina scored eight goals on 24 shots while Appalachian State University field hockey did score twice but only tallied four shots before the Tar Heels came out on top, 8-2.
"Today was a great day for our program in hosting the No. 3 team in the country, UNC," said first-year head coach and former Tar Heel, Meghan Dawson. "They are a very strong team fundamentally and are constantly working hard with great off-ball movement."
UNC (9-1) pushed its win streak to five while the Mountaineers (2-7) scored at least twice for the fourth time in nine contests. North Carolina held the advantage in corners, 9-1, but in goal, Cristina Ceppi was busy all day as she notched 10 saves to just one from Mary Kathryn Harrah, the Tar Heels' backup goal keeper.
Dawson continued, "It was a great learning experience for our team to see what it takes to be nationally ranked. It was a huge positive for us to find the goal twice today and I am proud of the girls for continuing to work hard no matter the score."
By the time the 24th minute rolled around, UNC had put up a five spot, but the home team didn't go away quietly. App State converted on a pair of shot attempts in the final 2:42 of the first half and the first came from Charlotte Kirwan (33rd minute), her first of the season, on Micaela Diedericks' cross from the baseline on the right side of the cage.
The next goal came off the stick of Diedericks (35th minute) with just 12 seconds on the clock and this time, Savanna Sheridan had the helper to cut the deficit to three, 5-2, heading into the intermission.
The visitors' three second-period goals came in the 45th, 50th and 66th minute to put them ahead 8-2 and that is where the score stood as the final buzzer sounded. North Carolina's eight goals came from seven different players and Casey Di Nardo was responsible for two of them.
Appalachian State's two other shots came from Diedericks and Caroline Phillips.
Next up, the Mountaineers will continue their six-game homestand by hosting Wake Forest on Friday, Oct. 2 beginning at 5 p.m.
