UNC field hockey delivered a dramatic weekend at Karen Shelton Stadium, earning two important victories and turning a difficult start to the season into a memorable stretch of competition. The Tar Heels first defeated Penn 7-0 before facing No. 2 Princeton in a tense matchup that required a shootout to decide the winner.
The Princeton game remained scoreless through regulation and 15 minutes of sudden-death overtime. Although Princeton created more attacking opportunities, UNC’s defense repeatedly prevented the Tigers from breaking through. Goalkeeper Merritt Skubisz played a central role, making five saves, including a crucial first-half stop that kept the game level. Morgan O’Donnell also made an important defensive save during the second half.
The deciding moments came in the shootout. UNC quickly built a 2-0 advantage through successful attempts from Coco Courtright and Reese Anetsberger, while Skubisz stopped Princeton’s first three attempts. Princeton eventually fought back to make it 2-2, setting up a dramatic final opportunity for freshman Sofia Ferri. After being given another chance following a goalkeeper foul, Ferri calmly converted to secure the victory for Carolina.
The result gave UNC its 13th consecutive victory over Princeton dating back to 2013 and highlighted the team’s ability to remain composed in a defensive battle. Ferri and Skubisz were later recognized with ACC Player of the Week honors following their performances across the weekend.
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