North Carolina wins the 2020-21 DI field hockey championship
North Carolina wins ninth national championship, beats Michigan
No. 1 North Carolina wins third straight national championship and ninth national title in program history with Sunday night's 4-3 victory over No. 2 Michigan. UNC ties the all-time championship mark with Old Dominion (9).
Watch the championship game highlights here.
In exciting fashion, the Tar Heels won the 2020-21 DI field hockey championship at home in Karen Shelton Stadium — a venue they have never lost in — and finished the season 19-1. The last time a UNC team won a championship at home was the 1993 women's soccer team.
Erin Matson scored the winning goal off a corner pass in overtime. She celebrated the victory with a long, warm embrace with her father in the stands.
This was North Carolina's seventh overtime game of the season and seventh victory in as many trips. Michigan entered the night 2-2 in overtime.
Click or tap here to see every DI field hockey champion since 1981.
With the @uncfieldhockey NCAA title today, every four-year @UNC student who enrolled since 1977 has been on campus for at least one @goheels national title.
— Adam Lucas (@jadamlucas) May 10, 2021
Those original students are now 62 years old. #GDTBATH
North Carolina, Michigan head into overtime tied 3-3
Michigan held North Carolina scoreless in the fourth quarter to force overtime in the 2020-21 DI field hockey championship match. The first team to score next wins.
North Carolina could not capitalize on the Wolverines being down to 10 players toward the end of regulation.
Michigan ties North Carolina 3-3 in the third quarter
With 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Michigan ties the game 3-3. Sarah Pyrtek stroked the game-tying goal into the right side of the cage. It's her seventh goal of the season.
This is the first time both teams have scored at least three goals in a DI field hockey national championship game.
Michigan strikes back to cut North Carolina's lead 3-2
Kathryn Peterson puts Michigan right back in the game with a goal past the far post. North Carolina still leads 3-2.
The shot from the arc is Peterson's fourth of the season.
Erin Matson extends North Carolina's lead over Michigan, 3-1
North Carolina leads Michigan 2-1 at halftime
North Carolina's Bryn Boylan scores on penalty stroke
North Carolina's Bryn Boylan is now 4-4 in penalty strokes this year after pushing one past the Michigan goalkeeper Anna Spieker. The Tar Heels lead 2-1 in the second quarter.
Michigan and North Carolina go back-and-forth; tied 1-1
The 2021 DI field hockey championship has started with a bang. Michigan strikes first as a fast break led to a goal that was trickled in by Kate Burney. North Carolina wasn't phased though, as the Tar Heels responded quickly. On a corner, UNC's star Erin Matson blasted the ball in to tie the match up 1-1.
Q1: GOAL MICHIGAN! 9:18
— Michigan Field Hockey (@umichfldhockey) May 9, 2021
Burney charges into the circle from the ride baseline, puts a tight-angle shot on, and it deflects off a UNC defender and in! Her 3rd this season.
Michigan 1, North Carolina 0 pic.twitter.com/eeU0NoWyoC
2020-21 NCAA DI Field Hockey Championship: Date, time, score, updates
No. 1 seed North Carolina and No. 2 seed Michigan will play for the 2020-21 NCAA DI Field Hockey Championship at 7 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 9. You can view the scoreboard and live stats here (link opens in a new window).
The championship will air on ESPNU.
North Carolina defeated Stanford, then No. 4 seed Iowa en route to the championship, scoring five goals while allowing zero. Michigan knocked off Bucknell 2-0, then No. 3 seed Louisville 2-1 to reach the final.
The Tar Heels are aiming for their third consecutive national championship and ninth overall, while the Wolverines will try to take home their second national championship trophy.
No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Michigan to face in national title match
No. 1 North Carolina will face No. 2 Michigan in the 2020-21 DI Field Hockey Championship title game after both teams advanced on Friday. North Carolina took care of business against No. 4 Iowa in its semifinal match, shutting out the Hawkeyes 3-0. Michigan had a little bit of a more difficult time as it went through 2OTs and an extra shootout against No. 3 Louisville before winning 2-1 (Wolverines outpaced UL 4-3 in penalties).
HEADED TO THE 'SHIP!!! #NCAAFH #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/98P69HhDAl
— Michigan Field Hockey (@umichfldhockey) May 7, 2021
Here is the schedule for the national title match:
Michigan-Louisville 1-1 after 2OT, heading to shootout
Neither Michigan nor Louisville could notch the golden goal to send either team to the national championship game. Michigan was knocking at the door late, but Louisville's defense came up strong time after time. Now the Cardinals and Wolverines will enter a penalty shootout to decide who will face No. 1 North Carolina in the national title match.
Cardinals defense holds strong in the closing minutes of the second OT! 😤
— Louisville Field Hockey (@LouisvilleFH) May 7, 2021
Shootout coming up...
📺https://t.co/hIdE2JCRk5 pic.twitter.com/OKMxDHVBa1
Tune in to ESPN3 to watch live.
Michigan, Louisville still locked up at 1-1 after first OT period
Michigan and Louisville will head into a second period of overtime after neither team could find a goal during the first period. The next team to score will win and advance to the national championship, but if this second period of OT remains scoreless the Cardinals and Wolverines will head into a shootout.
No change in score during the first overtime. Into the second overtime we go. pic.twitter.com/APhPYyTXzP
— Louisville Field Hockey (@LouisvilleFH) May 7, 2021
Louisville ties it up 1-1, match heads to OT
With under two minutes to play, Louisville's Emilia Kaczmarczyk scored off of a corner to tie the semifinal match up with 1:18 to play. After Kaczmarczyk scored, both Louisville and Michigan remained scoreless as the second semifinal match head to overtime.
With a converted corner of our own, we enter overtime! pic.twitter.com/WbCStasJEd
— Louisville Field Hockey (@LouisvilleFH) May 7, 2021
Michigan holds onto 1-0 at end of three
Michigan's defense has held No. 3 Louisville at bay through three-quarters of play. The Cardinals average over 13 shots per game this season, but they have only had one shot during today's semifinal match.
The Wolverines will look to ride Anouk Veen's goal in the third quarter to land a bid in the national championship game. Michigan will look to limit penalties, as it will be shorthanded heading into the fourth. Tina D'anjolel was hit with a 10-minute yellow card in the third quarter.
Michigan scores, take a 1-0 lead
Anouk Veen scored her fourth goal of the season after firing a rocket past the Louisville defense and into the net. Veen's goal came on a corner and was assisted by Clare Brush and Kathryn Peterson. No. 3 Louisville will look to respond, but Michigan's offensive pressure has been relentless since the start of the second half.
Q3: GOAL MICHIGAN! 34:34.
— Michigan Field Hockey (@umichfldhockey) May 7, 2021
Veen with an absolute rocket off the penalty corner direct shot. Hammered to the lower left corner. Her 4th goal this season. Assists from Brush, Peterson.
Michigan 1, Louisville 0 pic.twitter.com/zZXYvJmfLV