Postgame Quotes
11/16/2007 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 16, 2007
NCAA FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS
North Carolina Postgame Quotes
HEAD COACH KAREN SHELTON -
On tonight's semifinal match:
"We're thrilled to advance to the national championship game. I thought it was a real tough battle with Connecticut. I felt really good about the first half and the way our team competed, but they got a goal in the last minute of the half that changed the complexion of the game. Coupled with the goal they got early in the second half, it really put a lot of pressure on us and I think it woke them up. They played hard and tough and made us work for everything we got."
On giving up the first goal to Connecticut late in the first half:
"I think Melanie Brill made a bad decision and made a pass that was intercepted at the end of the first half and sometimes that happens. Connecticut jumped on it. They were able to score a goal and we deserved to give up a goal after a bad pass like that in the last minute of the half. It was just a bad decision and I told Melanie at halftime that I'm sticking with her. She's been there all year for us and she made big plays in the second half."
On jumping out to an early lead:
"We wanted to throw high pressure at them and the forwards worked really hard and we were able to just get something early and that was part of the plan, as it is in most games."
SENIOR RACHEL DAWSON
On playing a non-conference opponent:
"I think as far as familiarity, we're not very familiar with Connecticut or the Big East style. We don't play that many teams, but obviously we play ACC teams numerous times in the season. I think it's different because you don't know what to expect from your opponent. We had watched some video, but that was all that we really knew about them. We knew that they were skilled and would pose a really big threat to us."
Connecticut Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Nancy Stevens
Opening Statement:
"Obviously I couldn't be any more proud of our team, to fight back from a 3-0 deficit shows a lot of character. I think my favorite moment of the game was when the score was 3-2 and we had a corner and we missed by inches, that would have been incredibly exciting to tie it up. I think our players battled the whole game and I am extremely proud of them. North Carolina is a great team that has talent at every position, and they play at a very high level. It certainly was a great challenge and I congratulate Karen and her players
On the North Carolina defense:
"The great thing about them is that they give up very few goals, I think their defense is ranked number one in the country and we scored two goals on them tonight and threatened on numerous occasions. Penalty corners were 4-4, so all of that was really encouraging and exciting."
Senior Lizzy Peijs
On the Carolina Defense:
"I think we had trouble getting through, every time I turned around with the ball I felt like there were 10 people in front of me. They have a very solid backfield and I think their defense is one of the best."
Senior Nikki Harmony
On playing an ACC school compared to the normal Big East Schools:
"It was a different game. I think the ACC teams play a different style of game than the teams we are use to playing - Syracuse and Providence are more physical teams. North Carolina is a great team, but as you saw in the second half, we really showed we were a good team and we really started to play good Connecticut field hockey."
