Nov. 3, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Fourth-seeded North Carolina scored with less than seven minutes remaining in the game to take a tightly contested match against fifth-seeded Boston College, 2-1, in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Championship on Thursday.

With the score knotted at 1-1 and the game clock winding down, North Carolina's Britt van Beek deflected home a goal in the 63:41 mark to put the Tar Heels ahead to stay.

North Carolina (14-5) struck first in the contest, with Allie Tanner getting the Tar Heels on the board in the sixth minute of play. Xan Funk sent a pass from the right baseline across the goal mouth, and Tanner pounded it home at the 5:23 mark to put UNC on top.

The score stayed 1-0 in favor of the Tar Heels until the 49th minute, when Boston College's Caitlin Gillen pounced on a rebound after a flurry of action in the box to level the score at one apiece at the 48:32.

The Eagles (13-6) threatened to score several times in the waning minutes, but couldn't find the back of the net. Crystal Frates and Bob Dirks had Boston College's best chances with about two minutes to play, but Frates' shot was saved by UNC goalkeeper Katy Tran, and Dirks' shot off the rebound went wide right.

Boston College outshot the Tar Heels on the afternoon, 16-8, and drew six penalty corners to North Carolina's three.

Tran allowed just one goal in 70 minutes of work, and recorded nine saves. Boston College's Jillian Savoy totaled three saves and allowed two goals for the game.

North Carolina advances to face No.1 seed and top-ranked Wake Forest on Friday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m.

The 2005 ACC Field Hockey Championship is being hosted by the University of Maryland at the Terrapins' Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.