UNC Field Hockey Falls to Saint Joseph’s in NCAA Semifinal

The University of North Carolina‘s field hockey team, the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, suffered a surprising defeat in the semifinals against the No. 4 seed Saint Joseph's on Friday, November 22. The game, held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, ended with a 2-1 victory for Saint Joseph’s, marking a significant upset in the tournament.

The Tar Heels, who were seeking their 12th national championship and third consecutive title, had been dominant throughout the season. They entered the semifinals as the only undefeated team in the country and held top national rankings in several statistical categories, including goals per game, assists per game, and scoring margin.

Despite their strong season, UNC struggled against Saint Joseph’s, who secured their spot in the final with a pair of 1-0 home wins over Lafayette and Princeton in the earlier rounds. This loss ends UNC’s bid to become just the 10th team in the sport’s history to complete an undefeated season.

Erin Matson, UNC’s head coach and a former player known as the “Michael Jordan of field hockey,” had led the team to significant success since taking over. Matson won four national titles as a player and one as a coach last season. Her leadership and the team’s performance this season had set high expectations for another championship run.

The semifinal loss is a setback for a team that has been at the pinnacle of college field hockey, having claimed five of the last six NCAA titles. The Tar Heels will now look to regroup and prepare for the next season, with Matson already focusing on recruiting and building the roster for future success).