University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
North Carolina
No. 5 UConn Narrowly Falls to No. 1 UNC
10/14/2018 1:30:00 PM | Field Hockey
NEWTON, Mass. – Redshirt goalkeeper Cheyenne Sprecher made seven saves as the No. 5 UConn field hockey team (12-3) narrowly fell to No. 1 North Carolina (15-0), 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Boston College.
Sophomore Kourtney Kennedy scored her first career goal against the Tar Heels.
UNC got on the board first off a penalty corner opportunity at 11:27. Sprecher made four saves in the first half, including a diving stick save on a Tar Heel corner shot, but North Carolina took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Kennedy scored her goal at the 43:29 mark in the second half, sending a direct shot it, which deflected over the keeper. Svea Boker and Antonia Tiedtke tallied assists on the penalty corner chance.
Four minutes later, the Tar Heels took the lead again. The Huskies pressured in the final 15 minutes, including four minutes with an empty net, but were unable to find the equalizer.
This was UConn's eighth match against a ranked team this season. The Huskies moved to 5-3 against top-25 programs this year.
North Carolina held a 7-3 advantage in penalty corners and a 16-9 lead in shots.
The Huskies return to Storrs to host No. 19 Liberty Thursday at 6 p.m. at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex. UConn will travel to No. 24 Boston University next Sunday at 1 p.m.
