A New Chapter for UNC Field Hockey
Coach Erin Matson steps into her first season without the familiar faces of her previous playing days, ushering in a fresh era for the University of North Carolina’s field hockey program. The team has swapped out the old core for a completely new roster, setting the stage for a bold push toward the program’s first national title.
Central to the excitement are ten newcomers who have arrived on Chapel Hill with impressive credentials. Among them, Sofia Ferri, a junior Pan‑American silver medalist and two‑time state champion from Pennsylvania, and Morgan O’Donnell, widely regarded as the top defender in the class of 2026, headline a group that also includes Molly Nussbaumer, a Chapel Hill native who captured three state titles at Cardinal Gibbons High School.
International Talent and Defensive Strength
The incoming class also brings global experience. Floor Holzenbosch, Imme de Leeuw and Micky van Baasbank from the Netherlands join the squad, with Holzenbosch carrying three national club championships to her name. From England, forward Cecily Moorhead adds a national‑school championship pedigree from Wellington College. Together, these players bolster a defense that already boasts experienced back‑liners Grace Pottebaum and Hope Haynes, who helped the team post the nation’s best goals‑against average in 2024.
In goal, sophomore Merritt Skubisz will pair with transfer Tessa Shahbo, the former Harvard goalkeeper who led the Ivy League in goals‑against average last season. Their combined experience between the posts promises stability as the team opens the regular season at the ACC‑Big Ten Challenge in Winston‑Salem against Michigan on August 28, 2025.
Looking Ahead to a Championship Run
With a blend of seasoned veterans and top‑ranked fresh talent, the Tar Heels are poised to challenge for the ACC‑Big Ten Challenge title and beyond. The coaching staff believes the depth and skill of the new recruits, coupled with the continuity of key returners, could finally translate into the program’s long‑awaited national championship.