Makes sense. 4 seems like a good number to add on to make us more competitive.
UNC Field Hockey 2026-2027
- Thread starter 3397char
- Start date
Primary?
We have also had success with German and South African players.
My suggesting another source has no implicit suggestion of replacing one for another.
They weren't lucky. Committee thought they were one of the best at large teams.
We actually had a very high KPI. 6th in the country.
I agree we werenβt lucky. Weβve had some dumb bad luck all year, Iβll take this.
I agree we werenβt lucky. Weβve had some dumb bad luck all year, Iβll take this.
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I don't believe it is practical in terms of recruiting budget and man hours to actively recruit every international source. By active, I mean going out and building pipeline relationships and seeking recruits.
And this caveat of active recruiting acknowledges that recruiting goes both ways. If there are international agents and placement services contacting us with a player that is interested from another country then yes, by all means start recruiting that athlete.
I think it is also helpful for a potential recruit to know they will have 3 or 4 teammates from their country. It also allows your coaches to learn some of that one specific language and culture.
There is a reason that most teams seem to have a specific focus on their international recruits, which you can see on their roster.
With that said, I am surprised that Argentina appears to not be a UNC focus, given the background of our Asst coach. But it does not concern me, as in I do not feel like we are making a mistake that is limiting the overall quality of our recruiting classes.
Latest from the DTH
Column: Erin Matson preaches growth and development. Now, itβs her turn.
βIf all you focus on is the good, there is no room for growth and development.β
dailytarheel.com
I enjoyed Erinβs quotes in the article.
However, some parts were weird by the writer.
βIf Matson wants to retain success without the stars that built her dynasty, she may need to wake up herself. She may need to turn her focus elsewhere; away from the good. Away from the social media attention. Away from always being so proud of her team.β
Social media attention? Always being so proud of her team?
I donβt get the vibe at all that Erin is the type of coach to stay content and not be willing to grow. Hearing some of the things she says during the games to get the players motivate reinforces that.
The DTH is solid at times but also unnecessary critical. I do wonder how many games and how closely these writers are actually following the program.
Just viewing box scores can be very misleading.
However, some parts were weird by the writer.
βIf Matson wants to retain success without the stars that built her dynasty, she may need to wake up herself. She may need to turn her focus elsewhere; away from the good. Away from the social media attention. Away from always being so proud of her team.β
Social media attention? Always being so proud of her team?
I donβt get the vibe at all that Erin is the type of coach to stay content and not be willing to grow. Hearing some of the things she says during the games to get the players motivate reinforces that.
The DTH is solid at times but also unnecessary critical. I do wonder how many games and how closely these writers are actually following the program.
Just viewing box scores can be very misleading.
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Matson is in a tough spot that wasn't really her doing.
She had to take the job. She was likely offered the job ahead of when she should have gotten it but she had no choice but to take it.
The program has an unbelievably high bar. I think it's fair to say she does a bit too much of the social media stuff but she's younger and that's her world so again - hard to complain.
She had to take the job. She was likely offered the job ahead of when she should have gotten it but she had no choice but to take it.
The program has an unbelievably high bar. I think it's fair to say she does a bit too much of the social media stuff but she's younger and that's her world so again - hard to complain.
I think most times the DTH and the student papers know better than everyone else. They usually do follow the team closer.
βEveryone elseβ?
Not sure I agree with that if weβre comparing against the people on this board who have been attending, watched every game this year and understand field hockey as a sport.
If weβre comparing against people who just follow the program through social media, sure. However, I would definitely say the people on this board follow closer than the DTH. We have a good group on here. So thatβs the perspective Iβm speaking from when I question how close theyβre following the program.
I actually worked with the DTH for a year. I can tell you most the writers arenβt watching every game or following closely. Many of them actually hated going to the Olympic events.
Just felt like the writer focused in on some particular quotes to push her theme. Iβve been watching all of Erinβs post game interviews, and to imply sheβs been focusing on the βgoodβ too much is just odd as Erinβs continued to preach improvement and fixing mistakes. I just donβt get where that take came from. Erin does a good job of not being overly critical of her team during her videos while also getting the message across that improvement is necessary. The article focused mainly on the former.
If Erin has been failing to say that growth is needed/we need to do a better job closing, I would agree with that writer, but that hasnβt been the case.
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She essentially asked Bubba for the job. She didnβt have to take the job.
So stupid to criticize Erin for being positive publicly (she does criticize the team plenty on the sideline and in the locker room) and her social media presence. Given how much future recruits are online, her social media presence is a fantastic idea. It also helps with fundraising for the program.
Some thoughts:
- In terms of social media, this is a generational gripe you will hear everywhere, regardless of profession. Older people, especially Millennials for some reason, canβt stand the way that young Gen Z professionals put themselves out there on Instagram and other SM. So I think EM is merely targeted as a broader indictment of Gen Z behavior.
- Older coaches, like Banghart as an example, do just fine on SM as well, but it is clearly more Millennial-esque mom boss vibes that older fans and fellow coaches see as laudable.
- The only thing I care about regarding her social media is if it resonates with recruits. I suspect it does, but I have no way of knowing. But I see no way it is hurting.
- Sports editorials are for clicks and engagement. There is nothing profound to be said in sports that has not already been said. So we are getting an angle that is not insightful, just designed to get a reaction. Exactly what we are doing here.
- The DTH is not unique. Same stuff, different news outlet. The only difference is it is an experimental space for student journalists to try and find their persona.
- When a team loses there is basically never an interview style of the coach that fans like. They just want to be mad at the coach so he or she will be picked apart no matter what. Roy was too corny, Mack was too corporate PR, Larry was too defensive, Hubert was too loving, Banghart did not accept blame, Butch did not care enough about rivals, Bill is a stone wall. Mack Brown was probably hardest to pick apart but no matter what you canβt win.
100%.
And I personally think, her post-game interviews after losses are very balanced. She does acknowledge mistakes/shortcomings. Sheβs just not the type to throw everyone under the bus.
But Charβs points are all accurate as most writing is done to elicit a reaction.
I guess Iβm just a bit more defensive as itβs a niche sport and doesnβt get a ton of coverage, so just hate when misleading coverage is out there by your own schoolβs newspaper.
We got Wake Forest players liking troll posts on UNCIG. How pathetic is that?
A Duke dad was trolling the face book page. His daughter never beat UNC. She graduated last year.
A Duke dad was trolling the face book page. His daughter never beat UNC. She graduated last year.
Joe Szukics
Β·
What happened?
guess a lawsuit to game the system doesn't guarantee wins! Couldn't have happened to a more deserving team.
#Karma
Facebook and UNCIG
Β·
What happened?
Facebook and UNCIG
UNC didnβt game the system by the 5/5 lol
People act like the only school in the country with 5th years. We had extra space, a rule change was made and we benefited.
Itβs not our fault we were proactive in keeping roster spots open for them.
People act like the only school in the country with 5th years. We had extra space, a rule change was made and we benefited.
Itβs not our fault we were proactive in keeping roster spots open for them.
Should have focused more on beating Virginiaβ¦.#Karma
Also seeing a lot of talk about Erinβs ability to recruit in some comments and on Reddit.
You could argue Erin is the best recruiter in the country.
We 9 top 10 recruits committed from the Class of 2026 to 2028.
Other notable schools:
Maryland - 2
Princeton - 4
Duke - 1
Virginia - 2
NW - 3
Wake Forest - 1
We are absolutely dominating recruiting. This doesnβt include international, but we do well with those as well.
And Sofia Ferri was just ACC Freshman of the Year, so I think she is doing okay with evaluations and development as well.
You could argue Erin is the best recruiter in the country.
We 9 top 10 recruits committed from the Class of 2026 to 2028.
Other notable schools:
Maryland - 2
Princeton - 4
Duke - 1
Virginia - 2
NW - 3
Wake Forest - 1
We are absolutely dominating recruiting. This doesnβt include international, but we do well with those as well.
And Sofia Ferri was just ACC Freshman of the Year, so I think she is doing okay with evaluations and development as well.
Other fhockey teams have 5 for 5 players this year. Heck, Ohio State had them from game 1.
Iβm honestly confused at what Erin has done to even elicit it.
Sheβs not a bad sport and is also complimentary of other teams.
As a player, she wasnβt dirty. She was just very elite.
40 degrees and raining in Evanston IL.
People act like this is reward.
People act like this is reward.
From the other teams and the USWNT, it is envy. Theyβre jealous that she was the best American player ever and that she got the coveted job at the best program. Itβs really that simple. Instead, the USWNT and the overall hockey community should be celebrating her and advocating her to help the sport reach new heights on the field and in public attention.
Does seem like a case of older people jealous such a young coach is having great success.
Not sure Iβve ever been angrier at a sporting event than when the credentialed USWNT administrators (seated directly behind me) were OPENLY cheering for Northwestern against us in the 2023 national championship game. Needless to say they got an earful from me after the winning penalty shot.
Okay ladies and gentlemen. The bottom line is we got in the NCAAT. Now it is 0 and 0 for all teams. This is our reset button. This is do or die and where it all matters and counts. Our young ladies and staff know what must be done and I will leave it at that. Go Heels!
I recall Coach Shelton and team traveled to NED and more recently EM and Poppy to assess talent there.
I ask parents and the majority respond either they do not know or the international player(s) contacts the coach(s). Sometimes it is word of mouth among friends and players. I asked Feline Guenther's mom how they came to be a Tar Heel - via Nina Notman. I asked Yentl Leemans. She was simply looking for a team that welcomed her, brought her joy. And on it goes. So apart from time, effort and expense, is it positive communication? BTW, I would welcome more local talent like Morgan Geotz, Katie Dixon, and Reid Miller. Thank-you for your thoughts and information.
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If I recall correctly, the 1st time EM asked Bubba he told her to win the national championship and then come back and ask him. That Bubba.
Right. Erin wanted this job and it wasnβt forced on her.If I recall correctly, the 1st time EM asked Bubba he told her to win the national championship and then come back and ask him. That Bubba.
The Anybody But Carolina (ABC) Club is a big tent that welcomes all haters.
(GtHD) dook I can better understand. Right: fuel.
Wake's gotta be hurtin' and we are an easy target. After all, they defeated us. We're in; they're not.
I thought that last name looked familiar.Joe Szukics
Β·
What happened?guess a lawsuit to game the system doesn't guarantee wins! Couldn't have happened to a more deserving team.#Karma
Facebook and UNCIG
What are the odds that the above Joe Szukics is the same person as the father of the former (GtHD) dook player #6 Mary Joe Szukics?
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