CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Saint Joseph's field hockey team is set for an NCAA Tournament Second Round matchup against #1 North Carolina on Sunday afternoon at Karen Shelton Stadium. The winner will book a spot in the Final Four in Storrs, Connecticut.
#9 Saint Joseph's at #1 North Carolina
2022 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship Second Round
Sunday, November 13 • Karen Shelton Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C. • Noon
Tickets • Live Stats
On Friday, the Hawks, ranked ninth in the final Penn Monto / NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll of the season, earned the first NCAA Tournament win in program history as they topped #10 Wake Forest, 3-1. After falling behind early in the first quarter, the Hawks quickly responded through a goal from Celeste Smits before Lily Santi put them ahead in the first minute of the second quarter. The SJU defense weathered an onslaught from the Demon Deacons in the second half, but a Manu Ghigliotti tally with 4:40 to play gave the Hawks some breathing room to see out the historic victory.
The Hawks and Tar Heels have already met once this season, with UNC notching a 6-0 win on October 23. It is the Hawks' only loss in their last 13 games. The programs have met four times, all since 2017; the Tar Heels earned an NCAA Tournament win over SJU in 2017 before beating the Hawks in double overtime at the end of the 2019 season, while the Hawks earned a 3-2 win over then-#4 UNC in September 2021.
Saint Joseph's (16-4) received its berth courtesy of winning the 2022 Atlantic 10 Championship, the program's fifth title in the last six seasons. The Hawks dominated #21 UMass in a 3-0 road victory; the SJU defense did not allow a shot to the Minutewomen in the contest.
North Carolina (18-0) won the ACC regular season and tournament championships, going undefeated in league play before topping Syracuse and Virginia in the ACC Tournament in Durham, North Carolina.
LEADERS
Goals: SJU: Lily Santi, 18; UNC: Erin Matson, 22
Assists: SJU: Lily Santi / Freke van Tilburg, 9; UNC: Erin Matson, 9
Points: SJU: Lily Santi, 45; UNC: Erin Matson, 53
Game-winning Goals: SJU: Lily Santi, 4; UNC: Erin Matson, 8
Goals Against Average: SJU: Robin Bleekemolen, 1.00; UNC: Abigail Taylor, 0.85
Save Percentage: SJU: Robin Bleekemolen, .738; UNC: Abigail Taylor, .750
