No. 2 Carolina field hockey left Winston-Salem with more answers than results Sunday, falling 3-2 to No. 11 Iowa and dropping to 0-2 on the young season.
The Tar Heels showed a sharper edge on offense after a sluggish Friday, piling up 25 shots to Iowa’s 10 and unloading 12 attempts in the second quarter alone. But Abby Johnson stood tall for the Hawkeyes, finishing with nine saves to help Iowa survive the pressure and hand Carolina its second loss of the weekend.
Carolina also led twice in the first half, only to see Iowa seize control with a pair of third-quarter goals separated by just three minutes. That swing sent the Hawkeyes in front for good.
“We are proud of this group for the improvements they keep making with still being completely, obviously unsatisfied,” said Carolina head coach Erin Matson after the game. “It was an eye-opening weekend for us on what we need to do in order to get to where we want to go at the end of the season.
Sofia Ferri got the Tar Heels started in the first quarter, pouncing on a loose ball at the top of the circle and burying a backhand shot through the keeper’s legs for her first career goal. The freshman, a top-10 recruit in her class, has started both games so far.
Iowa answered early in the second quarter to level the match, but Carolina responded quickly. Ferri and Reese Anetsberger worked through the Hawkeyes defense before finding Charly Bruder, who sent a shot to Molly Catchpole at the back post for the finish.
That goal was Catchpole’s first since Oct. 13, 2024 against App State two seasons ago. The veteran is one of two girls on the team who played alongside Matson.
After failing to earn a penalty corner on Friday, Carolina collected seven against Iowa, including five in the second quarter. Even so, the Tar Heels took a 2-1 lead into halftime before the third-quarter burst from the Hawkeyes flipped the game.
Carolina now turns home for its opener Friday, Sept. 4 against Penn at 6 p.m. ET.
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