UNC Field Hockey 2026-2027
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Erin just yelled out “body language” “attitude”
2-1 Carolina.
Bruder. Assisted by Ella and Dani
Bruder. Assisted by Ella and Dani
Wow! After the slowmo play - it is absolutely unreal that Charly got a good swing on that after the flyer poked the ball first.
Well, a win is a win. I really hope we return to playing freely, passing well etc. It feels we are very tunnel visioned in certain areas of the field. Every team has the same game plan against us, make us pass the ball around our defensive and force us work up the sides - and we’re still struggling greatly with it. There’s no midfield play in the middle of the field.
Even Ryleigh hasn’t been looking like her self.
Even Ryleigh hasn’t been looking like her self.
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My thought in live action as well, but angle was not great on replay due to the crashing defender running into the lane. With that said, Reese has to finish 1v1 versus the goalie.
Bruder also missed a 1v1 later.
Good day for the cuse goalie overall.
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yes, as a player who was in college both before and after the 5in5 rule, she can use whichever system works best for her: the old redshirt rules or the new 5 years of eligibility rules. she qualifies to play another year in either structure so all good.
Considering they did not award an upgrade to Heck in the 1st half, even on review, when the foul was actually across the line, I really did not like the upgraded PC here on UNC's minor obstruction with decent positioning and other defenders in the area.
Upgrading PCs is the most subjective rule in hockey.
Similarly regarding penalty stroke upgrade: UNC is fighting 1 ft from the goal line earlier and their goalie stops an obvious goal with a back stick, then mounts the UNC player for good measure. How that is not upgraded to a penalty stroke is beyond me.
I will say the the Cuse green card was pretty weak, so we were not the only team hurt, though we did not even get a shot when we were woman up.
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The weight of the seeming win-or-miss-the-tourney position we put ourselves in is probably being fealt.
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If she poked the ball first then the shot shoulda been unallowed
I -think- she was still touching the ball when Bruder made contact for a simultaneous hit, but hard to tell.
Pretty fortunate that Cuse absolutely wasted their referral just seconds before. Not sure it would have been overturned, but woulda been close...
But yeah, great great shot by Bruder
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The defense on this team is underrated. Everyone talks about offense, but without question, Bruning and the defense will be the 1A factor on how far this group goes
If she poked the ball first then the shot shoulda been unallowed
I -think- she was still touching the ball when Bruder made contact for a simultaneous hit, but hard to tell.
Pretty fortunate that Cuse absolutely wasted their referral just seconds before. Not sure it would have been overturned, but woulda been close...
But yeah, great great shot by Bruder
The flyer does get to the ball first, and pushes the ball away with a little bounce up into Bruders shot - which is why Bruders shot bounces off the turf into goal. At least that’s how it appears to me after taking a slow motion video with my phone of the slowmo replay by the broadcast
I encourage you all to do the same so you can see. It’s at the 6:40 mark remaining on the replay broadcast - super impressive. We got lucky today!I think you are right. I have noticed that too. It seems like a lot teams are using that same game plan. EM and staff must come up with a plan to combat this strategy.
A pattern Im seeing the last 2 weekends- dominate on Friday and then dont play as sharp and confident on Sunday. I feel like that are subbing consistently so not sure fatigue. But our confidence and body language was night and day better this Friday than yesterday and id say the same about last weekend.
I had the same feeling. They come out more aggressive on Fridays than Sundays.
I do think some of it has been the Friday opponents haven’t been as good but it is interesting.
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Agree. We just don't play our best on Sundays for whatever reason. It's how we got blitzed by Liberty.
Do you think it could be that they are mentally tired which indicates a lack of focus? or could it be them putting to much pressure on themselves?
They could try to do some mental exercises with to relax the stress, their brains, etc.
At least we have Wake and Duke on a Friday!
Previously 15th prior to this week-end; this ranking puts us back on the bubble, so good.
It’s probably a combination of what you listed but also that they’ve had tougher Sunday games.
This Sunday wasn’t as bad as last Sunday though, and I do think weather did play a factor last week.
And I will the defense yesterday was superb. It’s just the offense that looked sluggish at times. Felt like there were a lot of errant passes. I’ve also only really been following the sport closely for a few years, so honestly will have to defer to someone else on the technical stuff.
I also think as a whole, the margins in field hockey are just thinner than they used to be across the sport.
With games vs #5 RPI dook and #6 RPI Wake still remaining, we still control our own destiny in terms of teh ACC reg season title. And wins in both should secure an at-large bid regardless of ACCT outcome.
Lose to wake and beat dook and the ACC ends in a 3-way tie (if Wake also beats Louisville). I am pretty sure dook wins the tie-break because they beat the higher placed UVA.
In the scenario above, if Wake loses to Louisville then we tie dook and win the tie-break by beating dook head-to-head.
Dook has only one game left vs us so if they beat us, they win the ACC.
2026 Field Hockey Standings
dook has been in a ton of close games, 3-3 in either OT or shoot-outs. They have not lost a game in regulation time, but there are an additional four 1-0 games they won in regulation. So that is 10 of 14 games decided by one goal or tied. 3 of the 4 teams they beat by multiple goals are bad teams: bottom half of D1. They do not score much; 3 goals should certainly win it, possibly 2.
UNC has been in 8 1 goal or OT games, including all 5 losses. But since our 5th year seniors returned only 2 of 7 were close and we are 6-1.
Wake is 1-5 in one goal games, losing both that reached OT.
Lose to wake and beat dook and the ACC ends in a 3-way tie (if Wake also beats Louisville). I am pretty sure dook wins the tie-break because they beat the higher placed UVA.
In the scenario above, if Wake loses to Louisville then we tie dook and win the tie-break by beating dook head-to-head.
Dook has only one game left vs us so if they beat us, they win the ACC.
2026 Field Hockey Standings
| SCHOOL | ACC | PCT | GF-GA | HOME | AWAY | OVERALL | PCT. | GF-GA | HOME | AWAY | NEUTRAL | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 6-1 | .857 | 13-7 | 3-0 | 3-1 | 11-3 | .786 | 37-16 | 7-0 | 4-1 | 0-2 | W2 |
| North Carolina | 5-1 | .833 | 22-4 | 2-1 | 3-0 | 9-5 | .643 | 48-17 | 4-2 | 5-1 | 0-2 | W2 |
| Wake Forest | 4-2 | .667 | 14-8 | 1-2 | 3-0 | 10-5 | .667 | 49-17 | 5-3 | 4-2 | 1-0 | W1 |
| Louisville | 3-3 | .500 | 7-10 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 9-6 | .600 | 27-20 | 6-2 | 3-2 | 0-2 | L2 |
| Virginia | 3-4 | .429 | 10-13 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 8-5 | .615 | 30-23 | 3-2 | 5-2 | 0-1 | W2 |
| Syracuse | 2-3 | .400 | 10-10 | 1-0 | 1-3 | 7-5 | .583 | 33-22 | 2-1 | 4-4 | 1-0 | L2 |
| Stanford | 1-4 | .200 | 7-20 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 9-5 | .643 | 33-28 | 6-3 | 3-2 | 0-0 | W1 |
| California | 1-4 | .200 | 6-13 | 0-4 | 1-0 | 8-5 | .615 | 33-23 | 3-4 | 5-0 | 0-1 | W1 |
| Boston College | 1-4 | .200 | 5-9 | 1-1 | 0-3 | 6-8 | .429 | 30-24 | 4-3 | 1-5 | 1-0 | L1 |
dook has been in a ton of close games, 3-3 in either OT or shoot-outs. They have not lost a game in regulation time, but there are an additional four 1-0 games they won in regulation. So that is 10 of 14 games decided by one goal or tied. 3 of the 4 teams they beat by multiple goals are bad teams: bottom half of D1. They do not score much; 3 goals should certainly win it, possibly 2.
UNC has been in 8 1 goal or OT games, including all 5 losses. But since our 5th year seniors returned only 2 of 7 were close and we are 6-1.
Wake is 1-5 in one goal games, losing both that reached OT.
Honestly, I never realized how tough it was to make the post season in field hockey. Mainly because it’s never been a huge issue for us.
Agreed that defense carried the day. I didn't feel like we looked confident taking shots- some esp corners seemed timid almost. Also I saw visible frustration on some of the players faces and body language.
Yep, Erin yelled it out too about the body language.
Some random stats in jeopardy:
- UNC has been the regular season ACC Champ 4 years in a row, (7 of last 8) undefeated twice, one loss twice.
- UNC has been top 10 in goals per game for at least 17 straight seasons. We currently sit at 13th at 3.23 with 10th place at 3.35.
- 9 straight ACC Tourney titles. We have played in the ACC Championship game 15 of the last 16 years
- Heck has never won ACC POY, even when she was NPOY
- Bruder leads the ACC in goals (14). Next best is Rees-Gibbs (WF 12) and Klompmaker (Cal 12). Heck is 3rd in goals per game (.857), but has only played in 4 games (Behind Bruder [1.00] and Klompmaker[.923])
- Bruder also leads in total points (29) but she (2.07) is slightly behind Klompmaker (2.15) in points per game due to one more game played.
- Anetsberger and Pottebaum are tied for 4th in assists with 6 each
We finished the regular season in 2021 at 10-6 and were on the outside looking in. We had to win the ACCT, which we did, but even then we ended up with bracketed as a 10 seed (no official seeds outside of top 4) having to play 7 seed NW on the road who beat us first round (round of 16) and they went on to win the title.
For context, we were the 3X defending national champion and this was Matson's 4th year. A really surprising down year for UNC, and by down year I mean still ACC Champ and 10th best team in the country.
Then, as now, there were 18 teams, but 10 spots are consumed by conference champions.
Top 8 gets one home game, top 4 gets both home games, prior to Final Four.
By my count, going straight down RPI, the current cutoff is #13.
Right.
Top 4 seems out of reach but top 8 if we win out and win the ACCT should be possible.
Yes, and they tend to follow it pretty closely. Last year top 13 got in, everyone below did not (except AQs)
UNC Field Hockey 2026-2027 - Page 20 - Forums
The 2026 roster is finally out; this list is updated. Starters Returning: 4Y (Sr) F Charly Bruder (NFHCA 2nd Team A-A, All ACC) - 2025 4th in ACC in goals (18), 6 assts - lead the nation in goals in 2024 (27) 5Y (R-Sr) D Grace Pottebaum - 2 year starter, named team DPOY at awards banquet 2Y...
But my rule of thumb is you want to enter the ACC tourney 9th or higher. Otherwise you are at risk of a tournament loss dropping you outside of the at-large, especially if there are tournament winners who steal bids.
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Wow, I did not know that Heck has never won ACC POY. How can you win NPOY and not win ACC POY. This is the bias we have all been talking about.
This is not accurate. She was ACC OPOY in 2024:
2024 Field Hockey Season Honors, All-ACC Teams Announced - Atlantic Coast Conference
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