The University of North Carolina’s field hockey program enters the 2026 campaign as the nine‑time defending Atlantic Coast Conference champions, riding a 21‑2 record from the previous season that included a heartbreaking overtime loss to Northwestern in the NCAA semifinal.
A New Chapter for the Tar Heels
Head coach Erin Matson, who has guided the Tar Heels to only two true road defeats since taking the helm in 2023, will now oversee a completely reshaped roster after the departures of key seniors Ryleigh Heck, Sietske Brüning, Dani Mendez and Sanne Hak.
The schedule features eight away contests, highlighted by a five‑game stretch against Stanford and Cal, and opens with the familiar ACC‑Big Ten Challenge against Michigan and Iowa, a series in which North Carolina holds a 37‑7 combined record since 2002.
Despite the loss in the 2025 semifinal, the team remains focused on defending its conference title and pushing toward a national championship, a pursuit that will be aided by a home‑court advantage for the ACC Championship game, the first time the Tar Heels will host the event since 2020.
The Tar Heels will open the season with familiar opponents Michigan and Iowa before traveling to face Princeton, Virginia, Stanford, Cal and Louisville, then return to Chapel Hill for a rematch with Wake Forest as they look to translate their strong home record into another championship run.