Wolverines Drop Opener to No. 2 North Carolina

Friday, August 26

Winston-Salem, N.C.

2:30 PM

Michigan

(0-1)

North Carolina

(1-0)

Michigan

North Carolina

Abby Tamer (Andy Mead)

8/26/2022 5:37:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 3 Michigan dropped its season opener to No. 2 North Carolina, 5-1, at the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
» Abby Tamer pulled U-M within one early in the third quarter before a one-hour, three-minute lightning delay; UNC pulled away with three goals after the extended break.
» Anna Spieker and Caylie McMahon combined for nine saves in the Wolverine cage.

Site: Winston-Salem, N.C. (Kentner Stadium)
Event: ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Score: #2 North Carolina 5, #3 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (0-1), UNC (1-0)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Aug. 28 -- at Wake Forest - ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Winston-Salem, N.C.), 1:30 p.m.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team dropped its season opener at the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge, falling 5-1 to No. 2 North Carolina on Friday afternoon (Aug. 26) at Wake Forest's Kentner Stadium.

After largely weathering an early onslaught in the first quarter and trailing 2-0 at the halftime break, the Wolverines appeared to gather some momentum in the early moments of the third -- only to lose it during a one-hour, three-minute lightning delay midway through the frame. Carolina scored within a minute of the restart and tacked on two more early in the fourth to pull away.

UNC capitalized on early strikes all game, netting its first and game-winning goal on a rebound at the 2:27 mark. Michigan responded in kind to start the second half, drawing a penalty corner 97 seconds in, and cutting the deficit to one with sophomore Abby Tamer's second-effort goal. Carolina stopped the initial shot before Tamer roofed the rebound to the upper-left corner of the cage. The Wolverines were breaking fast down the field when play was halted about six minutes later.

Ashley Sessa led the Tar Heels with three goals, including both of their fourth-quarter tallies.

UNC outshot the Wolverines, 19-10, and outcornered them, 6-5. Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Anna Spieker and sophomore/freshman Caylie McMahon played a half apiece and combined for nine saves, while UNC's Abigail Taylor and Kylie Walbert combined for four stops on five U-M shots on goal.

Michigan will wrap up the ACC/Big Ten Challenge against No. 20 Wake Forest at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 28) at Kentner Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on the ACC Network.