The North Carolina field hockey team got just what longtime coach Karen Shelton wanted Sunday against unbeaten Maryland in the Division I championship game: a tight, defensive struggle and a chance to win it at the end.

Third-seeded North Carolina forced a penalty corner late in the second half, let the clock wind down and won the national championship, 3-2, when senior Danielle Forword whacked a low, hard ball past goalkeeper Alicia Grater with only 11 seconds left. [More]

Semifinals

Princeton         1          4 – 5

Maryland         3          4 – 7

First half: P – Michelle Cesan (Katie Reinprecht), 7:29; M – Emma Thomas (Katie O’Donnell, Alexis Pappas), 13:36; M – Thomas (Pappas, O’Donnell), 18:50; M – O’Donnell (unassisted), 23:46.

Second half: M – O’ Donnell (Nicole Muracco), 36:24; P – Kaitlin Donovan (Cesan), 37:14; P – Reinprecht (unassisted), 47:16; P – Reinprecht (unassisted), 52:10; M – Megan Frazer (unassisted), 56:48; M – Ameliet Rischen (O’Donnell), 62:30; M – O’Donnell (unassisted), 66:26; P – Kathleen Sharkey (unassisted), 68:54.

Shots: Princeton 16, Maryland 19. Goalkeeper saves: Princeton (Jennifer King) 3, Maryland (Alicia Grater) 6. Penalty corners: Princeton 10, Maryland 13.

North Carolina            1          2 – 3

Virginia                       0          2 – 2

First half: NC – Danielle Forword (Katelyn Falgowski), 22:59.

Second half: V – Traci Ragukas (unassisted), 47:03; NC – Taryn Gjurich (Falgowski), 50:44; NC – Elizabeth Drazdowski (Kelsey Kolojejchick), 53:24; V – Paige Selenski (Inga Stockel), 59:23.

Shots: North Carolina 12, Virginia 11. Goalkeeper saves: North Carolina (Jackie Kintzer) 5, Virginia (Kim Kastuk) 5. Penalty corners: North Carolina 7, Virginia 8.

Championship

North Carolina            0          3 – 3

Maryland                     0          2 – 2

Second half: M – Nicole Muracco (unassisted), 42:02; NC – Danielle Forword (unassisted), 60:37; M – Megan Frazer (unassisted), 62:11; NC – Illse Davids (Katelyn Falgowski), 65:15; NC – Forword (Caitlin Van Sickle, Falgowski), 69:49.

Shots: North Carolina 10, Maryland 11. Goalkeeper saves: North Carolina (Jackie Kintzer) 5, Maryland (Alicia Grater) 6. Penalty corners: North Carolina 7, Maryland 5.