LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 2017 North Carolina field hockey season and the Tar Heels' ninth consecutive final four run ended Friday afternoon with a penalty-shootout loss to top-ranked and undefeated Connecticut, 2-1 in an NCAA Tournament semifinals game at the University of Louisville's Trager Stadium. UNC finishes the fall with a record of 18-5, while UConn (22-0) advances to play in the NCAA championship game on Sunday.
After a scoreless first half, both teams capitalized on second-half penalty corners to finish regulation at 1-1. After neither team scored during the two 15-minute overtime periods, the game went to a penalty shootout, with Connecticut winning that 3-0.