Carolina field hockey continues to win against quality opponents, notching a 1-0 win against the second-ranked Virginia Cavaliers on Friday night in Charlottesville. This is the Tar Heels’ fifth win this
season against teams ranked in the top 15. The Heels came into the matchup ranked third, making this UNC’s first game they played as an underdog (by ranking) since 2023.
Both teams entered the game with stingy defenses; Virginia had only conceded five goals total this season coming into the matchup—the second-best mark in the country—and had recorded five shutouts. The Heels also have a solid defensive unit, though, and boast one of the highest scoring differentials in the nation.
The contest lived up to the billing, with neither team able to get many good scoring opportunities. UNC and Virginia each finished with only two shots on goal, which was a season low for both teams. It was well into the fourth quarter when forward Ryleigh Heck sent a pass in to Charly Bruder, who smacked it past the Wahoo’s goalkeeper for the only score of the game. Bruder now has 10 goals in 10 games after leading the country in scoring in 2024.
The win moves UNC’s record to 11-1 with a 4-1 record in the ACC; their lone loss was a 2-1 overtime defeat to Wake Forest. The loss knocks Virginia from the ranks of the unbeaten clubs; only Northwestern and Harvard remain undefeated this year. The Heels won’t have much time to celebrate the win, however; they return to action against 19th-ranked Louisville at noon Eastern time in Chapel Hill. The match will be televised on the ACC Network.
