Tar Heels' Season Ends With Loss To Michigan
Nov. 15, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The North Carolina field hockey team ended its 2003 season Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 loss to Michigan in a first-round NCAA Tournament game at Michigan State's MSU Field Hockey Complex. The fourth-ranked Tar Heels finish the year with a record of 16-6. "I'm disappointed for my players," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "They've worked extremely hard this year and given me everything I've asked for. We congratulate Michigan on the win." Carolina dominated the offensive statistics, but was able to get just one shot in the cage. UNC's only goal came with 7:28 to play before halftime and tied the score at 1-1 on a penalty corner tip-in by junior Katy Potter off a shot by junior Laura Douglas. Both Michigan goals were by senior April Fronzoni. She scored an unassisted goal 14 minutes into the game to give the Wolverines an early lead. Less than four minutes into the second half, she put Michigan up for good when she tipped in a penalty corner shot by junior Adrienne Hortillosa. The Tar Heels finished the game with 16 shots to 10 by Michigan. The Wolverines had just one shot in the first half - Fronzoni's first goal - but exploded for nine in the second half, when the Tar Heels also had nine. UNC had 13 penalty corners to Michigan's five, all in the second half. The Tar Heels' season ended against the same opponent with which it began. UNC beat Michigan 4-0 in Ann Arbor, Mich., to open the year. Carolina won its first nine games for its longest winning streak of the season. Saturday's loss was UNC's only one of the season to a team outside of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Tar Heels' first loss to a team ranked lower than third. Michigan (16-5) is ranked sixth in the nation. The UNC loss marked the second consecutive NCAA Tournament in which the Tar Heels have been elimitated in the first round by Michigan. Carolina, which missed out on the tournament in 2002, lost 5-2 on the Wolverines' home field in 2001.
The Wolverines advance to meet the winner of this afternoon's meeting between host Michigan State (16-4) and Louisville (13-9). The winner of that game earns a spot in the NCAA Championships Nov. 21 and 23 in Amherst, Mich.
No. 6 Michigan 2, No. 4 North Carolina 1
UNC starters: Carey Fetting-Smith, Naomi Weatherald, Brooke Miller, Rachel Dawson, Kelsey Keeran, Katy Potter, Laree Beans, Ashley Judge, Kerry Falgowski, Laura Douglas, Katy Tran
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