Wolverines Down No. 2 North Carolina in Overtime to Open 2026

Friday, August 28

Winston-Salem, N.C.

3:30 PM

Michigan

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North Carolina

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Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Michigan	0	0	1	0	1	2
North Carolina	0	0	0	1	0	1

Sofia Ghanbari (Michigan Photography)

Wolverines Down No. 2 North Carolina in Overtime to Open 2026

8/28/2026 9:34:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Jordan Manning

» After a two-hour weather delay, No. 14 Michigan defeated No. 2 North Carolina 2-1 in overtime in the season opener at the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
» Eva Bernardy scored her sixth career goal on a penalty stroke to put the Wolverines on the board before redshirt freshman Sofia Ghanbari netted the game-winner in her collegiate debut.
» The win marks U-M's seventh victory over the Tar Heels in program history and first since 2021.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team defeated No. 2 North Carolina 2-1 in overtime at the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Friday afternoon (Aug. 28) at Wake Forest's Kentner Stadium.

Redshirt freshman Sofia Ghanbari made her collegiate debut in style, scoring the game-winning goal four minutes into overtime to lift the Wolverines past the Tar Heels for the first time since 2021 and just the seventh time in program history.

After a weather delay pushed back the start of the game by two hours, the teams battled through a scoreless first half without much offensive output. The teams combined for seven total shots in the first 30 minutes of play, with goalie Hala Silverstein recording the only save heading into halftime.

Michigan found the back of the cage first, scoring on a penalty stroke with just under two minutes remaining in the third. Eva Bernardy converted for her sixth career goal at the 43:08 mark after Juliette Manzur, returning to the field after missing the end of the 2025 season due to an injury, drew the stroke on a shot attempt following a penalty corner.

North Carolina responded early in the final frame, with Charly Bruder scoring just five minutes later to even the game 1-1 and force overtime, but a rocket from Ghanbari at 64:48 gave U-M the victory.

Cami Wiseman fired a team-leading four shots with three on target. The Wolverines won the penalty-corner battle 3-0 and held a 12-9 shot advantage. UNC goalkeeper Merritt Skubisz registered seven saves to Silverstein's one.

Michigan will close out its ACC/Big Ten Challenge weekend against No. 7 Wake Forest at 2 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 30) at Kentner Stadium. The game will be streamed live on ACCNX.