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#UNC coach Erin Matson, Sofia Ferri and Merritt Skubisz after shootout win over No. 3 Princeton
Sep 6, 2026
#UNC coach Erin Matson, Sofia Ferri and Merritt Skubisz after shootout win over No. 3 Princeton
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0:00
Um, just overall really proud. I think
0:04
you know our our goal after Friday was
0:06
all right, we played a good solid game
0:07
of hockey. We felt really good about
0:08
what we generated, how we played on
0:10
defense and everything, but then now it
0:12
was time to finish the weekend and I
0:13
think we did exactly that. We knew it
0:15
was going to be a battle today.
0:16
Princeton, I mean that was a hell of a
0:17
game. Um, number two ranked team in the
0:19
country and I think, you know, it was
0:21
just a really good game of hockey. Um,
0:23
and in the end we we were the ones to
0:25
put it away. But, um, defensively I
0:28
think we played great. There's stuff we
0:29
can get better. We're trying to be more
0:31
urgent, anticipate anticipate to play a
0:33
little bit more, tackle on our forehand
0:34
and outside the circle, all that stuff.
0:36
Um, but but overall that went pretty
0:38
well. Our focus going into this week is
0:40
definitely going to be generating our
0:42
attack. You know, we defense, you know,
0:44
it's it's extremely important. We play
0:45
team defense, but we can't play defense
0:47
all game long. Um, we need attack. We
0:49
need 1 v one wins. We need goals
0:50
outcomes. So, um, that'll definitely be
0:52
a focus, but I think Merritt played her
0:54
heart out. Had a great game and a great,
0:56
uh, overtime shootout sequence. I think
0:58
Caroline stepped up big for us um as you
1:01
know someone coming on the field that
1:03
was assuming a lot of pressure and was
1:04
able to execute um in the given moment.
1:07
I can't not talk about Sophia Ferry
1:09
putting it away at the end. Um but she's
1:12
playing great all game long defensively
1:13
[music] and on the attack both sides of
1:15
the game uh and you know for a freshman
1:17
to be in that position pack stands
1:19
cheering your name um sudden death and
1:22
needing to put it away otherwise we'd
1:23
we'd continue. I think it just speaks to
1:25
who she is as a player. Uh I caught, you
1:28
know, her looking over her shoulder at
1:29
the stands when they're cheering and uh
1:31
during one of the video reviews and just
1:33
being like, "Wow." And we could all feel
1:34
the energy from the fans. So fans, thank
1:36
you. Um but, you know, we looked at each
1:38
other and it was clear games like that
1:40
are why you come to Carolina to play in
1:42
moments like that. And the fact that
1:43
Chapel Hill creates an environment like
1:45
that. Karen Shelton Stadium has an
1:47
environment like that for just a regular
1:48
season game. You know, I'm excited to
1:50
see what the rest of the season look
1:51
looks like. But we'll take it one game
1:52
at a time, continuing to focus on growth
1:54
and just development. Uh we're grateful
1:56
for the two wins on the on the stat
1:59
sheet this weekend, but again, this
2:00
group is showing that they're just
2:01
continuing to improve on all in all
2:04
facets. So, um looking forward to this
2:06
week of training.
2:07
>> Feels like Scubish kept you in the game.
2:09
>> Yeah. Yeah. Like I said, I mean, our
2:11
defense stepped up for us. Um that was
2:13
big for us. It was another area where,
2:15
again, you saw from opening weekend, we
2:17
want to play strong defense. We want to
2:18
be urgent on defense. We want to just
2:20
not allow certain opportunities that the
2:22
other teams create, but then when they
2:23
do create them, because they will, uh,
2:25
you know, making sure we're we're
2:27
preventing anything from going in the
2:28
back of the cage. And I think our
2:30
defensive unit grew together, but then
2:32
also Merritt, uh, came up a couple times
2:34
in in moments where, you know, as
2:37
coaches, you dream that you have a
2:38
goalkeeper that you can rely on in those
2:40
last last stitch efforts, and she's
2:42
proving that she's won. So, um, really
2:44
proud of her. But yeah, I mean, our
2:46
defense definitely we made them work a
2:47
little bit harder just because we
2:48
couldn't generate too much attack today.
2:50
But the opportunities we did create were
2:52
really good ones. So, it's more just
2:54
about doing them more consistently and
2:55
more often.
2:56
>> I mean, at the end of the first half,
2:57
that sprawling stick save. I mean, that
2:59
that was huge.
3:00
>> Yeah. Yeah, that one. I think our
3:02
defenders, I think Morgan had a goal
3:03
line same save save today. Um, Meritt
3:06
had a great game. So did our so did our
3:07
defenders. And I think our forwards are
3:09
hungry. And now it's more just putting
3:10
into practicing uh or putting into
3:12
action while we're practicing. anything
3:14
to say on Merritt's um game today versus
3:17
her game against Michigan? Um I know she
3:19
it was both OT games, both two goals
3:22
like through
3:23
>> Yeah. Um
3:24
honestly, I think just like everybody
3:26
she's developed. I think even throughout
3:28
her um career here, you know, like we
3:31
came in and she was young and there was
3:32
a lot of hype around her and she was a
3:34
really solid goalkeeper, but we had
3:35
season veteran grad transfers and there
3:37
was splitting time and this and that and
3:39
um again, I mean, she's developed in
3:41
every single way. technically sure, but
3:43
the way she communicates, the demeanor
3:45
she puts off, her decision-m
3:48
um I think, you know, and now feeling
3:49
the confidence is just helping her
3:52
really step into that role even more and
3:54
her having a couple years under her
3:55
belt. So, um it's just really fun to
3:57
see, you know, as a coaching staff and
4:00
as a team, you can see how much they
4:02
support her and love her. And I think,
4:03
you know, Tessa and and Charlie B, our
4:05
entire goalkeeper unit, it's it's
4:07
healthy competition and being a
4:08
goalkeeper is really hard. It's a really
4:10
unique position. Um, but they're all
4:12
giving it, they're all and impacting
4:14
each other and challenging each other.
4:15
And Meritt's the one, you know, out here
4:17
who was out here today during game day.
4:19
Um, you know, who we we trusted and I
4:23
think she stepped up big time.
4:24
>> But the big picture, three overtime
4:26
games against three teams that are now
4:28
in the top 10. It's got to be a a big
4:32
help for your team in development.
4:34
>> Um, yes and no. I think this year being
4:36
the first year with the new overtime
4:38
rules, um, personally, we liked the old
4:41
overtime rules because they were a
4:43
different game. They, you know, it was
4:44
it took more coaching. It took, um,
4:47
learning the sequences of 7v7, it's very
4:49
different than 11 v1. So, when we voted
4:52
that on convention as coaches, you know,
4:54
and it um, changed. I think it I don't
4:56
personally know what's right or wrong.
4:58
Um, FIH rules don't have a 77 overtime.
5:02
So, the argument is like, why are we
5:04
NCAA? Why do we only have a weird
5:06
overtime thing um going on with 77?
5:09
Let's align with the FIH. But then the
5:10
FIH doesn't also do overtime period. The
5:12
end of regulation goes straight to
5:14
shootouts. And I know some college
5:15
coaches, including myself, was like,
5:17
well, you hear that all over the place.
5:18
You don't love when games are decided,
5:20
right, just with PKs or shootouts or
5:22
anything. So, we're trying this out um
5:25
this year. But I think our games, yeah,
5:27
there's been three already. um multiple
5:29
other games that and it's only the
5:31
second week of competition and many
5:33
games are going into overtime because I
5:35
mean if you're not scoring in 60 minutes
5:37
you know what is going to change in the
5:38
next 15 um but there's some tactical
5:41
differences honestly to us it's just
5:43
another quarter of play um and then I
5:46
think majority will still end in
5:47
shootouts so we'll see if it sticks um
5:50
again I hear the reasoning for both
5:51
sides and I I don't know what the right
5:53
or wrong answer is and this is what we
5:55
are now so you know that's all we're
5:56
focused on on just making sure that when
5:58
we're faced with it, we're we're
5:59
executing, we're training it properly,
6:00
and and we can um yeah, just put it away
6:04
in the moments we need to.
6:05
>> What was the overtime procedure last
6:06
season?
6:07
>> Sorry,
6:07
>> what was the overtime procedure last
6:09
season?
6:09
>> Last season and multiple seasons prior
6:11
all of my career and I think long before
6:13
that it was end of regulation, four
6:15
quarters, 15 minutes, and then it was
6:17
two 10s I believe of 77 um sudden death
6:21
and then shootouts. But 77 is a very
6:23
different game than 11-11. It's
6:25
different tactically, it's different
6:26
numbers, it's different spaces. So, um,
6:28
and again, it does not align with the
6:30
international play. Um, so that was
6:34
that's just a new rule yet implemented
6:35
this year, but you are seeing not just
6:37
us, um, many programs being forced into
6:41
overtime.
6:42
>> Thanks, Aaron.
6:42
>> Okay. Thank you guys so much.
6:44
>> Thanks.
6:45
>> All right. So,
6:47
take me through you get you you think
6:49
you're trying to end the game and you
6:51
get fouled and then you come back. take
6:53
me through that sequence
6:54
>> in the shootout.
6:56
>> Yeah.
6:56
>> Yeah. I mean, obviously the first time,
6:59
the first shootout, I was expecting,
7:01
okay, I'm going to get this in and then
7:03
I get fouled.
7:04
>> Yeah.
7:04
>> And I was like, okay, I have another
7:06
shot to get this in the goal. And I just
7:09
remember thinking,
7:11
I my whole entire team wants to win. I
7:13
want to win. The staff wants to win.
7:15
Carolina wants to win. and the goalie
7:18
stalling. Obviously, I'm freaking out.
7:20
But with everyone on my back and that
7:22
just thought of wanting to win and
7:24
everyone supporting, I just had to put
7:26
in the goal and that's what I did. But
7:28
obviously, we wouldn't have got there
7:29
without Meritt. I mean, she played
7:31
amazing in the game and in the shootouts
7:33
at all.
7:34
>> Tell me about you. You look like you
7:36
made a spin move on her on the goal.
7:38
Tell me tell me about that.
7:39
>> I mean, yeah. Um, the first one didn't
7:42
work. It was just a pull, right? So, I
7:44
was like, got to change it up.
7:46
um felt comfortable doing it. I felt
7:48
confident doing it. And in a shootout,
7:50
that's what you want to do. You want to
7:51
do what you think is confident, what you
7:54
think you're going to do, and the
7:55
confidence you have in that move. And
7:57
that's what I thought in that moment.
7:58
And I thought I was going to execute
8:00
that. So, I did it and it got in the
8:02
goal. So, I'm good.
8:08
>> What What's the challenge for your team
8:11
when you're getting outshot the way you
8:13
were today? How how hard is that?
8:16
>> I mean, obviously being under defense
8:19
constantly is is hard. It's mentally
8:21
hard. It's physically hard, but I mean,
8:24
we've worked through it the whole entire
8:25
week after last weekend. Our defense
8:27
fell apart at some points. And in those
8:29
moments, those teams capitalize on those
8:31
moments. So, we just thought like we
8:32
need to stay together no matter what. No
8:34
matter how tired we are, no matter how
8:36
mentally tired we are, we communicate.
8:38
We listen to each other. And it makes it
8:39
so much easier when we're defending. And
8:42
I think we really executed that this
8:43
game. And it showed on the it showed in
8:45
the field and it showed throughout the
8:47
whole entire game on the score. So
8:49
>> felt like uh Merritt kind of catch you
8:51
guys in the game. Can you talk about her
8:52
play?
8:53
>> Yeah, I mean as a goalie like you want
8:55
someone like Meridan goal. She's
8:57
amazing. She can save every shot. She
8:59
communicates to everyone on the field.
9:01
She's so organiz organ organizational
9:04
um to every single person on the field.
9:06
You hear her, you want to listen. And
9:08
she's so demand she demands for everyone
9:11
to do everything. And I think as a
9:14
player, you want a goalie like that
9:15
because it really keeps you in the game.
9:17
It really keeps you focused on what
9:19
you're doing. Um, and how you're
9:21
supposed to do it. And I think she's
9:23
amazing at it. And I mean, her saves are
9:25
incredible. She can dive at any ball any
9:27
last minute, second, it's insane.
9:30
>> So, you're not really supposed to be
9:31
doing this as a freshman. Your third or
9:34
fourth game. I mean, does it seem like
9:36
you're phased by the moment? I mean,
9:37
that was a pretty tense moment there.
9:40
>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I don't really think
9:43
about it as being a freshman. I think
9:44
about it as playing for a team that has
9:47
my back and playing for a team that I
9:48
want to be on and I feel very
9:50
supportive. So, I mean, I want to win
9:52
with this team. I want to play for this
9:54
team. I want to play for Carolina. So, I
9:56
think that's what keeps me in it. Um,
9:59
being a freshman has nothing to do with
10:00
it.
10:02
>> With such a young roster, how have the
10:03
veterans already stepped up to show that
10:05
leadership and set the tone for the team
10:07
culture? I mean, communication really.
10:10
It's every single practice veterans are
10:13
coming up to us young girls and telling
10:15
us stuff and it's also on us to take it
10:18
and apply it into the game and I think
10:20
that's what we've been doing really
10:21
well. Um, but yeah, they've really
10:24
stepped up and helping coach and
10:27
demanding things from us. So, I think
10:29
it's really helping us found girls on
10:30
the team and it's really showing. So,
10:33
>> thanks. So,
10:34
>> thank you. like the defensive part,
10:36
obviously doing all those things, but
10:37
the fact that like you were just
10:38
smiling, having the best time.
10:40
>> I mean, when I come out onto the field
10:42
for a game,
10:44
um it's so much more different than
10:45
practice. For practice, every single
10:47
save, every like chance I get, it's a
10:50
moment to get better. But when I'm on
10:51
the field getting ready for a game, it's
10:53
I'm the best goalie on this field and
10:55
I'm going to do everything I can to stop
10:56
every single ball. And so to do that, I
11:00
just try to have fun. And so I know a
11:03
lot of other goalies who try to take it
11:04
as seriously as they can. But if I come
11:07
onto this field and go ivory ball, I
11:11
need to save or I can't make a single
11:13
mistake, I'm going to start messing up.
11:15
So throughout the whole game, I just do
11:18
what I can to have as much fun as I can.
11:20
And I communicate to my defense. And
11:22
after every save, whether it's the best
11:24
save in my life or it's just some clear
11:28
that was going to go out of bounds
11:29
anyways, I treat it like no other goalie
11:33
could have done it.
11:35
>> Take me to the end of the first half.
11:37
They have an open net and you make a
11:39
sprawling stick save. Uh, take me
11:41
through that sequence.
11:42
>> I mean, I was on the ground already,
11:44
like I had logged and the ball got
11:47
slipped to the inserter. Um, and I
11:51
looked over my shoulder and I knew like
11:55
based off just how we set up our
11:56
defense, um, and based off our scout and
12:01
like based off what I was looking at,
12:03
she didn't have heavy marking. And so I
12:06
knew I was kind of the last line to get
12:08
there. No one else was going to kind of
12:10
be behind the ball. So I just put my
12:13
stick on the ground. And as a goalie,
12:16
I've learned that field players when
12:18
they're under pressure situations like
12:20
that, they just push the ball in. 90% of
12:23
the time it stays on the ground. So, I
12:25
do what I can to cover that ground and
12:26
hope it hits my stick. And that's
12:28
exactly what it did. So, I pushed it out
12:31
and it's underneath me. I'm doing what I
12:33
can to make sure I don't land on top of
12:35
it so I don't get a stroke or another
12:36
corner. Thankfully, my defense came in.
12:38
We got a foul coming out and um we just
12:42
reset from there and kept going. What
12:44
does it mean to you to have defenders
12:46
like Morgan O'Donnell who can like save
12:48
that ball after you've already dove for
12:50
it and get that out of your your area?
12:52
>> In moments like that, I'm looking back
12:55
and I'm going to try to do what I can,
12:57
but it was practically crossing the line
12:59
and she came in and she got it. And it's
13:02
always just such a relief cuz obviously
13:05
they don't want to get scored on either.
13:06
So, they're doing everything to back me
13:08
up and I'm doing everything I can to be
13:11
behind them, save every shot, but they
13:13
know it's not always possible. So,
13:15
they're putting in as just just as much
13:17
effort to keep the ball out of the goal
13:18
as I am. And it makes my job so much
13:20
easier when I know they're there
13:22
supporting me from behind as well.
13:23
>> So, last weekend, I think you had seven
13:25
saves and two two got in. Did was that
13:29
in your mind when you saw the shots just
13:31
keep coming to to to that that you're
13:33
not did want to let one in this time?
13:36
>> I mean getting scored on is just part of
13:39
being a goalie. As much as I'd love to
13:40
save every single ball, it's just not
13:42
possible. So it's always going to be
13:45
lingering in the back of my mind. But
13:47
like I said earlier, I try to step onto
13:49
the field and just everything's a reset.
13:51
If I get scored on, I get scored on.
13:52
It's not the end of the day. Everyone's
13:53
going to make a mistake. Um, just as
13:56
much as the field players are like
13:57
aren't expected to be perfect, they
13:59
coaches don't expect me to be perfect
14:01
either. Just they want me to do what I
14:03
can do and do my job well. Um, and so
14:08
I was
14:11
dwelling on it, I guess, for a little
14:13
bit after last week, just thinking about
14:16
how I can grow from those goals. But the
14:18
second I step onto the field for a new
14:20
game, it's a reset and that game's over
14:23
and I am where my feet are.
14:26
>> I know uh speaking of last week at the
14:28
Michigan game, you logged about 65
14:29
minutes and you logged a lot more than
14:31
that this game. How did that affect you
14:32
if it did? Um
14:35
I don't know. I'm always just super
14:37
grateful to step out onto the field. So
14:40
last week I played the first game and it
14:43
was a ton of fun and I would have loved
14:44
to have been out there for the second
14:45
game, but that's just not how it worked
14:47
out. And then this weekend,
14:49
I mean, this is the first time I've
14:51
played two games, like two full games
14:53
consecutively. So, it was a big change,
14:56
but it was also something I've really,
14:58
really been wanting. So, I was really
15:00
happy about it.
15:01
>> Could you elaborate maybe just on the
15:03
physical and mental differences and
15:05
having played just one half each game
15:07
last season to now? Um,
15:11
honestly,
15:12
I've preferred playing both s both
15:14
halves, whether it's two games or just
15:16
one, because going in the first half,
15:21
either way, it's fine. It's the second
15:23
half that's much harder if you're not
15:25
starting. So, for like last year, for
15:28
the second half, I had 10 minutes to
15:30
warm up because my body had gone cold
15:32
from sitting there for half an hour. the
15:34
whole team is in the locker room talking
15:36
about what like what they need to do on
15:39
the field. So, I'm not part of that
15:40
conversation and then I don't have them
15:43
warming me up either, which means it's
15:45
not necessarily the strongest warm-up.
15:47
So, it's just being able to come into
15:49
the game mentally prepared, not
15:51
necessarily physically prepared. So, for
15:54
the full game, it means I get to be part
15:57
of the conversation in the locker room
15:58
and I get to tell them what I need from
15:59
them and then I'm already mentally
16:01
prepped, physically prepped. um to go in
16:04
for the second half.
16:06
>> So, how many full games did you play
16:07
last year?
16:08
>> Last year I played zero full games.
16:09
>> Zero. Okay.
16:10
>> Erin mentioned that last year when you
16:12
first came in there was a lot of hype, a
16:14
lot of talk around you, but we still had
16:15
a lot of like veteran players and things
16:17
like that. Um kind of in the net. Talk
16:18
to me a little bit about that transition
16:19
for you kind of being the forefront now.
16:22
Um, [clears throat]
16:25
last year I think was just a like the
16:28
coaches
16:29
played me every h like one half every
16:32
game and it was a good chance to figure
16:34
out the change of speed cuz from what
16:38
I've found the change from high school
16:40
to college isn't like the speed of shots
16:44
but it's the decision making and how
16:46
quickly they can get the ball off their
16:47
stick. Um, and so it's just learning how
16:50
to set. So
16:53
that set me up for this year and now
16:57
like I know what the shots are like. I
16:59
know how to set and I know the decisions
17:01
I need to be making to prepare my team
17:03
for the best outcome.
17:05
>> Thanks Meritt.
17:06
>> Great work. here. Thank
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