“Clack, bang, slap” go the sticks. I am not talking about the sounds jamming outside Mr. Beyert’s band room -I am talking about the battle sounds that echo from the pitch of a field hockey game.
Field hockey is a classic sport that meshes teamwork and an individual’s stick skills into a super-fast paced game that keeps you at the edge of your seat. Witness it yourself at ourRidge field hockey games -you won’t be disappointed!
Field hockey is a game of intense mastery: dribbling, passing, and shooting, requires patience and countless hours of practice. Erin Matson began playing field hockey at six years old -and hasn’t stopped since. Matson grew up in Chadds Ford, PA and attended Unionville High School: There she began her legendary hockey career By 17 she was already playing for the U.S. National team. Then in 2018, Matson got an offer that would forever change her career. She was selected to play collegiate field hockey at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, under head coach Karen Shelton.
During her time as a Tar Heel, Matson played in four NCAA Championship teams and five ACC Championship teams. She was the winner of the Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey, becoming just the second player ever – after Shelton – to win that honor three times. She finished her career as the all-time scoring leader in both ACC history and the NCAA.
This was all very impressive for a small-town girl from PA, but it did not stop there. As she contemplated what she would do beyond her playing days, Coach Shelton decided to retire and on Jan. 31, 2023, it was announced Matson would be her successor. At first, it may have been quite strange to coach your teammates that once played alongside you, but success soon found Matson again. At age 23, she became the youngest NCAA coach to win a collegiate title beating Northwestern in the finals, making her an all-time champion for winning five titles in 6 years.
In a recent interview by the Associated Press, Matson said,” I live by the quote: pressure is a privilege,”[2] This certainly is how she has lived her life. She has never been afraid to take on any challenge, including being the youngest head coach of the number one field hockeyteam in America. This has made her an icon to many field hockey players across the globe.
[1]https://goheels.com/sports/field-hockey/roster/coaches/erin-matson/4138vvvv
[2]https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/dec/10/erin-matson-unc-field-hockey-coach-tar-heels