Sunday, September 14
Chapel Hill, N.C.
12:00 PM ET
Liberty University
(4-1, 0-0)
1
at
3
North Carolina
(6-0, 0-0)
1
2
3
4
F
Liberty
0
0
1
0
1
North Carolina
1
1
0
1
3
Freshman Diane Saint Martin made eight saves in goal at North Carolina.
No. 2 UNC Hands No. 9 Liberty 1st Loss, 3-1
9/14/2025 2:51:00 PM | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 2 North Carolina handed No. 9 Liberty its first loss, prevailing 3-1 in a top-10 matchup at Karen Shelton Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
UNC (6-0) remains unbeaten on the season, and Liberty falls to 4-1. The Tar Heels saw a two-goal lead trimmed to one at the end of the third quarter via a Dara Semmartin Lady Flames goal. However, UNC held strong in the fourth quarter and tacked on an insurance goal on an empty net for the two-goal victory.
Liberty's loss was its first at Karen Shelton Stadium since the 2019 season. The Lady Flames are the only team to top UNC twice at the facility (2021 and 2023). The Tar Heels improve to 66-4 at Karen Shelton Stadium, a facility that opened in 2018.
Lady Flames freshman goalkeeper Diane Saint Martin made a season high and career-high eight saves on the afternoon.
Scoring Summary
1' – NORTH CAROLINA – Reese Anetsberger (unassisted)
28' – NORTH CAROLINA – Ryleigh Heck (Sanne Hak)
45' – LIBERTY – Dara Semmartin (Lou Combrinck and Maite Altamirano) | Penalty Corner
58' – NORTH CAROLINA – Charly Bruder (Sanne Hak and Dani Mendez) | Penalty Corner
Goalkeepers
W: Merritt Skubisz 1-0, three saves
L: Diane Saint Martin 4-1, eight saves
Turning Point
North Carolina wasted no time from the opening whistle, scoring exactly one minute into the game. Reese Anetsberger provided the first tally, scoring on a rebound for her second goal of the season. Late in the first half, UNC's Ryleigh Heck scored from the right post on a feed from Sanne Hak. The Tar Heels held a 2-0 lead on the Lady Flames after one half of play.
Despite being down a player due to a green card in the waning minutes of the third quarter, Liberty earned its first and only penalty corner of the day. The Lady Flames capitalized on the chance, with Dara Semmartin scoring a drag flick goal with no time on the third quarter clock, assisted by Lou Combrinck and Maite Altamirano.
In the fourth quarter, UNC clung to a 2-1 lead, and Liberty pulled its goalkeeper, Diane Saint Martin, with 4:08 left in regulation in search of the equalizer. The Tar Heels earned a penalty corner with under three minutes to play and converted with Liberty's goalkeeper Diane Saint Martin out of the game. Charly Bruder fired a powerful shot into the middle of the cage, past a few Lady Flames defenders, for a 3-1 home lead with 2:13 remaining. Neither team attempted a shot the rest of the way.
Key Stats & Notes
Up Next
Liberty will play its 2025 BIG EAST Conference opener at Quinnipiac (4-2, 0-0 BIG EAST), Friday afternoon. Game time is 1 p.m. from the Quinnipiac Field Hockey Stadium in Hamden, Conn.
The Lady Flames were picked to finish second in the BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll, while the Bobcats were slotted seventh. Last year, Liberty bested Quinnipiac 9-0 in Lynchburg. The Lady Flames have taken seven of the eight all-time meetings between the two BIG EAST programs. Liberty is 8-1 all-time in BIG EAST openers.
UNC (6-0) remains unbeaten on the season, and Liberty falls to 4-1. The Tar Heels saw a two-goal lead trimmed to one at the end of the third quarter via a Dara Semmartin Lady Flames goal. However, UNC held strong in the fourth quarter and tacked on an insurance goal on an empty net for the two-goal victory.
Liberty's loss was its first at Karen Shelton Stadium since the 2019 season. The Lady Flames are the only team to top UNC twice at the facility (2021 and 2023). The Tar Heels improve to 66-4 at Karen Shelton Stadium, a facility that opened in 2018.
Lady Flames freshman goalkeeper Diane Saint Martin made a season high and career-high eight saves on the afternoon.
Scoring Summary
1' – NORTH CAROLINA – Reese Anetsberger (unassisted)
28' – NORTH CAROLINA – Ryleigh Heck (Sanne Hak)
45' – LIBERTY – Dara Semmartin (Lou Combrinck and Maite Altamirano) | Penalty Corner
58' – NORTH CAROLINA – Charly Bruder (Sanne Hak and Dani Mendez) | Penalty Corner
Goalkeepers
W: Merritt Skubisz 1-0, three saves
L: Diane Saint Martin 4-1, eight saves
22' | WHAT. A. SAVE.??
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) September 14, 2025
Diane delivers a beaut of a stick save??#SCTop10
?? ACCNX pic.twitter.com/ZdkWJ9d44K
Turning Point
North Carolina wasted no time from the opening whistle, scoring exactly one minute into the game. Reese Anetsberger provided the first tally, scoring on a rebound for her second goal of the season. Late in the first half, UNC's Ryleigh Heck scored from the right post on a feed from Sanne Hak. The Tar Heels held a 2-0 lead on the Lady Flames after one half of play.
Despite being down a player due to a green card in the waning minutes of the third quarter, Liberty earned its first and only penalty corner of the day. The Lady Flames capitalized on the chance, with Dara Semmartin scoring a drag flick goal with no time on the third quarter clock, assisted by Lou Combrinck and Maite Altamirano.
In the fourth quarter, UNC clung to a 2-1 lead, and Liberty pulled its goalkeeper, Diane Saint Martin, with 4:08 left in regulation in search of the equalizer. The Tar Heels earned a penalty corner with under three minutes to play and converted with Liberty's goalkeeper Diane Saint Martin out of the game. Charly Bruder fired a powerful shot into the middle of the cage, past a few Lady Flames defenders, for a 3-1 home lead with 2:13 remaining. Neither team attempted a shot the rest of the way.
Key Stats & Notes
- Freshman goalkeeper Diane Saint Martin had a standout game in cage, making eight saves. Her previous season high was four, which she achieved twice (at No. 5 Duke, Aug. 29 and vs. James Madison, Sept. 3).
- Maite Altamirano notched her first career assist and first point today. She assisted on Dara Semmartin's goal, along with Lou Combrinck. Semmartin's goal was the fourth of her career.
- Combrinck leads all Liberty players with six assists on the year through five matches.
- Semmartin also made a defensive save in the game, her first of the year and first of her career.
- UNC outshot Liberty 16-4 on the day and also held a 6-1 edge in penalty corners.
- This is the third time this season that Liberty's opponent has scored the first goal of the game. The Lady Flames are 2-1 when their opponents strike first.
- This was Liberty's first road loss of the year. The Lady Flames are 1-1 on the road and 3-0 at home. Liberty knocked off No. 5 Duke 4-3 in its only other road game, Aug. 29 to open the season.
- North Carolina improves to 10-2 all-time against Liberty. The Tar Heels have defeated the Lady Flames in back-to-back seasons.
- Liberty split its two matches this weekend. The Lady Flames edged UAlbany 1-0, Friday night at home on Senior Night.
What a way to end the 3rd quarter! @darasemmartin scores our 1st goal of the day to cut the UNC lead in half, assisted by Lou Combrinck & Maite Altamirano.
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) September 14, 2025
No. 2 Tar Heels 2, No. 9 Flames 1
?? ACCNX pic.twitter.com/qzTmHHFNqU
Up Next
Liberty will play its 2025 BIG EAST Conference opener at Quinnipiac (4-2, 0-0 BIG EAST), Friday afternoon. Game time is 1 p.m. from the Quinnipiac Field Hockey Stadium in Hamden, Conn.
The Lady Flames were picked to finish second in the BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll, while the Bobcats were slotted seventh. Last year, Liberty bested Quinnipiac 9-0 in Lynchburg. The Lady Flames have taken seven of the eight all-time meetings between the two BIG EAST programs. Liberty is 8-1 all-time in BIG EAST openers.
Team Stats
LIB
UNC
Goals
1
3
Shots
4
16
Shots on Goal
4
12
Saves
9
3
Corners
1
6
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Reese Anetsberger (2)
GOAL by North Carolina Reese Anetsberger (FIRST GOAL), goal number 2 for season.
1:00
Ryleigh Heck (5)
Assisted By: Sanne Hak
GOAL by North Carolina Ryleigh Heck, Assist by Sanne Hak, goal number 5 for season.
27:53
Dara Semmartin
Assisted By: Lou Combrinck , Maite Altamirano
GOAL by Liberty Dara Semmartin, Assist by Lou Combrinck and Maite Altamirano
44:59
Charly Bruder
Assisted By: Sanne Hak , Dani Mendez
GOAL by North Carolina Charly Bruder, Assist by Sanne Hak and Dani Mendez
57:47
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
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