UNC Field Hockey 2025-2026

[TH123]

Or contract the flu during the game....

It was food poisoning. What an awful way to go out. I feel so bad for the Cal girls & coaches.

 

[TH123]

This is true 90% of the time for content that appears on streaming and sometimes for lesser broadcasts that actually make the ACC network. But ESPN/ACCN sends staff to most revenue sport events and their game of the week style programming for Olympic Sports. And they always send one of their top national staff teams for ACC Championship broadcasts like this ACC Tournament.

We got Leah Secondo for play-by-play, who will do the NCAA final 4 event again this year, She has been doing it for over a decade now. She did not attend an ACC school but most on here think she seems to be tired of UNC dominance and has a tendency to pull a bit for the underdog. Just more in tone/excitement than anything she says, her analysis is usually spot on.

Suzanne Bush did color, Today I learned she went to Louisville (thx @TH123 ) and played there. But she is also a top FH commentator nationally, including the NBC broadcast of the Paris Olympics. I am sure the fact that she lives in Louisville and does not need a travel per diem made the decision for ESPN/ACCN a no brainer.

I think this pair will do every game in the tournament?

To be clear I have no problem with this duo. the alternative is often somebody who has only a basic understanding of field hockey, cannot identify penalties called, and does not provide any real insight.

They are the ACCN A-team. They do tend to root for the underdog, but they are knowledgeable & do their homework. The network is getting some younger ex-players behind the mic this season (at Syracuse, Abby Pitcairn here) & I think it’s great for the game.

If you want a fun listen, watch some St Joe’s home games. He’s a great announcer with a true love of the game. Big time homer, but very good at what he does.

 

[HONKYTONKTARASSOCIATION]

They are the ACCN A-team. They do tend to root for the underdog, but they are knowledgeable & do their homework. The network is getting some younger ex-players behind the mic this season (at Syracuse, Abby Pitcairn here) & I think it’s great for the game.

If you want a fun listen, watch some St Joe’s home games. He’s a great announcer with a true love of the game. Big time homer, but very good at what he does.

St. Joe’s

 

[HONKYTONKTARASSOCIATION]

so UVa won

 

[3397char]

They won't give the award to Erin. We all know that she should win coach of the year but they are not going to give it to her. How in the blank get WF has players get those awards.

TBF she won it last year, Kinda hard not to when you go undefeated. But I will absolutely agree that they just plain wont give it to her every year, regardless of of merit. Anybody But Carolina if there is anyone else in the conversation.

 

[3397char]

It was food poisoning. What an awful way to go out. I feel so bad for the Cal girls & coaches.

OMG 15 players went to the ER and only 7 were unaffected.

 

[minas823]

Tournament has been affected by the ups freight plane crash. Today’s game is to be played tomorrow now.

 

[HONKYTONKTARASSOCIATION]

a eventful tournament

 

[oldwell]

Horrible events yesterday. My girlfriend went to Louisville for grad school and lived right by the field hockey stadium (you could see the apartments during the game yesterday). Was pretty funny seeing the McDonald’s I frequented often in the background as well. Praying for that community.

It’s not Chapel Hill, but they have a nice college vibe for what many would call a commuter school.

 

[JOB1937]

Good first half. Attacking a ton. Just need to get more in the net.

Not letting Louisville do anything really.

Is it me or do the announcers seem like they’re pulling for Louisville?

For the third season in a row, the PXP announcer said, “this is anyone’s tournament.” When someone other than the Heels win it, you can say that.

 

[JOB1937]

Tournament has been affected by the ups freight plane crash. Today’s game is to be played tomorrow now.

Why would the #1 seed NOT play the earlier game tomorrow?? The higher seed should always be set up to have more rest going into the next round.

 

[3397char]

Tournament has been affected by the ups freight plane crash. Today’s game is to be played tomorrow now.

So apparently California asked the ACC Tuesday morning if they could postpone their game by dook for one day. This was when they legit did not know if they would have 11 players available to field a team because multiple women were still in the hospital and tons of others we bed ridden and/or hugging toilet bowls.

The ACC said no, and also refused to reorder the games. The dook/Cal game could have been the last game of the day, giving 6 more hours for recovery. Instead the ACC thought it was prudent to place trach cans around the field perimeter so Cal players had somewhere to vomit. The show must go on.

Cal eventually suited 16 women. (at times not all 5 subs were on the bench; I assume they disappeared as needed to go be sick or get fluids.) All of them played. 11 women were unavailable. Most who played were nowhere near 100% (reportedly 7 women avoided food poisoning.) You could see that some Cal players looked completely exhausted... at the opening minute of the game.

dook rolls.

Fast forward 4 or so hours and there is a horrific accident near the Louisville airport. The area is under a shelter in place order. the last game gets cancelled and the ACC quickly scrambles to reschedule that game and push back the following day's semifinals.

Yes I realize that this is a healthy helping of hindsight bias, but the dook/Cal game could have been today. that would likely have been not just a fairer choice, but probably a safer one, too. And even if the ACC just reordered the games, Cal/dook would be played today as a result of the accident.