Nov. 18, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The top-ranked University of North Carolina field hockey team defeated No. 9 Penn State, 3-0, Sunday afternoon at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex to take home the NCAA Championship title and a perfect 24-0 record. Penn State's record fell to 16-8 on the season.

North Carolina got on the board early, with a flick pass by Jesse Gey getting past the Penn State defenders to open teammate Katelyn Falgowski in the third minute of the game. Falgowski was able to take a hard shot from the right side of the goalkeeper for the score. The Tar Heels' 1-0 lead was unthreatened for the remainder of the half.

Senior Tar Heels' co-captain Rachel Dawson upped the lead in the 43rd minute with a penalty corner conversion, assisted by Falgowski. Dawson contributed to the attack again 20 minutes later with an assist to Danielle Forward. From the free hit, Forword executed a reverse stick chip shot for the goal.

In the cage for Penn State was Jen Beaumont, who made five saves in a full-game effort. Brianna O'Donnell played 65 minutes for the Tar Heels, saving one and holding the Nittany Lions scoreless. Goalkeeper Jackie Kintzer subbed in for North Carolina with just over four minutes remaining, but was not threatened with a shot.

On the offensive end, North Carolina got off 12 shots to Penn State's 3, and outcornered the Nittany Lions, 6-2.

North Carolina's 24-0 record ties the program-best season record. With the championship win, the Tar Heels became the fifth team in tournament history to win the NCAA title without a loss or a tie, as well as the fifth Tar Heels' field hockey squad to bring the title to Chapel Hill.

The final showdown took place in front of 2,374 fans that packed the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. This year marked the first time that the Final Four and Championship games were played in the state of Maryland.

Game recaps, box scores, post-game quotes, and webcasts of the semifinal and final games are all available online at www.umterps.com.

#9 Penn State (16-8) 0 0 - 0
#1 North Carolina (24-0) 1 2 - 3

GOALS: UNC, Katelyn Falgowski (Jesse Gey), 3:10, Rachel Dawson (Katelyn Falgowski), 43:18, Danielle Forword (Rachel Dawson), 63:16. SHOTS: PSU 3, UNC 12. PENALTY CORNERS: PSU 2, UNC 6. SAVES: PSU, Jen Beaumont 5 (3 GA, 70:00); UNC, Brianna O'Donnell 1 (0 GA, 65:51), Jackie Kintzer 0 (0 GA, 4:09). ATTENDANCE: 2374.