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The No. 2 UNC field hockey team (7-0, 1-0 ACC) defeated Cal (3-3, 0-1 ACC), 5-1, Friday night at Karen Shelton Stadium to kick off ACC play for both teams.
North Carolina was led by senior forward Dani Mendez, who tallied one goal and an assist, along with senior forward Ryleigh Heck who added two goals.
The Tar Heels came out of the gate uncharacteristically discombobulated while the Golden Bears maintained possession, earning three shots before the UNC got its first off of a penalty corner.
As the scrappy first period came to a close, Heck found junior forward Charly Bruder who took a shot from the right side, nailing one into the bottom left corner, sending the Tar Heels up by one.
North Carolina brought the energy to the second period and opened with two quick penalty corners. The second corner ricocheted off first-year back Isabel Boere’s stick to find Heck in the top of the net, making it 2-0.
Two minutes later, the Golden Bears struck off of a penalty corner, making the score 2-1. The Tar Heels answered sixty seconds later with a tap-in from first-year forward Eliza Perrin, solidifying a two goal lead.
The Tar Heels closed the first half leading the Golden Bears 3-1.
UNC could not find their footing in the third, nearing a scoreless period. After turnovers and miscommunications, the Tar Heels finally knocked on the door after Cal was down a player to a yellow card. In the last thirty seconds of the period, Heck found the back of the net from the far left side, smashing the ball into the top right corner off of the glove of the goalie, making the score 4-1.
Kicking off the fourth period strong, Mendez defeated multiple players in the box and managed to thread it through the circle to find the back of the net, giving North Carolina a four goal lead.
Rounding out the fourth, the Tar Heels secured two penalty corners and four shots, taking control of the period and preventing any further goals for the Golden Bears.
In the last two minutes, first-year forward Reese Antesberger earned a green card. Although Cal had a player up advantage, they were unable to capitalize as the clock ran out.
The Tar Heels will return to Karen Shelton on Sunday to host Stanford at 1 p.m.
@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com
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