Charly Bruder’s hat trick dooms No. 9 Syracuse in loss to No. 2 North Carolina
Charly Bruder’s hat trick and game-winning goal with 20 seconds left propelled No. 2 UNC to a 4-3 victory over No. 9 Syracuse Friday. Tara Deluca | Contributing Photographer
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Charly Bruder has conquered college field hockey. Her unparalleled resume includes a 2023 National Championship, along with First Team All-American and First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors last year.
In particular, she’s had Syracuse’s number. On Oct. 13, 2023, she started the scoring with a penalty corner goal in the Tar Heels’ 4-1 victory over SU. Last season, the junior tallied two more in the ACC Semifinal to fuel a 3-1 UNC win over the Orange.
Would Syracuse have an answer for Bruder on Friday, or would she continue to dominate?
It was the latter. Bruder’s hat trick led No. 2 North Carolina (13-1, 6-1 ACC) to a last-minute 4-3 victory over No. 9 Syracuse (10-4, 2-4 ACC). Even with the Tar Heels’ rocky first half, Bruder’s two second-half goals and assist propelled them to their fifth straight win.
“We got tested… there were moments where we got caught. When you play top teams, that’s going to happen,” SU head coach Lynn Farquhar said postgame.
Despite North Carolina’s 3-0 win over then-No. 19 Louisville on Sunday, Bruder didn’t record a goal for just the fourth time all year. It was the first time she didn’t even attempt a shot on net.
Meanwhile, Syracuse’s defense hadn’t allowed a first-quarter score since its Sept. 14 win over Lafayette. Backed by a swarming press and goalie dominance, SU’s backline had kept its opponents off the board early in games.
That changed Friday.
With North Carolina controlling the time of possession battle and communicating well early on, it was evident a goal would follow.
After a Syracuse foot foul, North Carolina had its first penalty corner chance of the game. Following Dani Mendez’s insertion, Bruder fired the ball into the net and past Jessie Eiselin’s outstretched arms to give the Tar Heels an early lead.
“We always play with a zero-zero mentality,” Bruder said regarding UNC’s momentum while ahead.
It was eerily similar to how the ACC Semifinal match began. But instead of her first goal coming in the second quarter, it came just two minutes into the contest, the earliest she’s scored in a game this season.
Along with the rest of UNC’s offense, Bruder’s momentum dipped for the remainder of the first half. Although it found solid scoring opportunities, North Carolina’s attack was held at bay by a suffocating Syracuse backline.
Whenever Bruder wasn’t in a rhythm offensively, the rest of her team wasn’t either. The Tar Heels’ poor offensive execution after Bruder’s first goal led to an efficient SU attack, notching three goals in about 10 minutes. It put UNC’s stagnant attack in a precarious position heading into halftime, one it isn’t in often.
It didn’t last long.
North Carolina’s offense opened the third quarter with increased aggression and force, unleashing shot after shot. Bruder’s first shot of the second half was blocked, but she had another chance to trim UNC’s deficit to one shortly after.
Just under five minutes into the third quarter, a scrambling Ryleigh Heck saw Bruder within the scoring crease. Without hesitation, she knocked the ball into the net, giving the Tar Heels life and making it 3-2.
Even with Bruder leading North Carolina with 13 goals this season, her 20% shot percentage is a career low. UNC scored just once despite eight third-quarter shots, with Bruder being a major factor despite her goal.
But even when SU’s defense trapped Bruder on Friday, her high awareness and field vision allowed UNC to stay in the game.
After Bruder’s slapshot sailed out of play, she found Mendez in scoring position, who tied the game a minute into the fourth quarter. It was Bruder’s first assist of the campaign.
The former All-American has had several signature moments throughout her UNC tenure. The crowning moment of her season may have come Friday.
Knotted at three apiece with 19 seconds remaining, Bruder’s shot flew over both Bo van Kempen and goalie Tane King before squeaking its way inside the left post for a goal.
It was a fitting game-winner, yet just a small snippet of Bruder’s already historic collegiate career.
“I always tell myself to just find the back of the net no matter how you do it,” Bruder said.
