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Duke Wins in Overtime, North Carolina Posts a Shutout as Two ACC Teams Reach the NCAA Field Hockey Second Round

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

North Carolina field hockey player dribbling the ball on the turf during a match, with a teammate running in support behind her

Two ACC programs are still dancing in November. Duke needed overtime to knock out a national seed on the road, North Carolina needed just one early goal and a lockdown defense, and both now face top seeds on Sunday with a place in the NCAA Field Hockey semifinals on the line.

Following first-round victories in the 2026 NCAA Field Hockey Championship, No. 8 national seed North Carolina and Duke will represent the Atlantic Coast Conference in the tournament’s second round on Sunday, November 15.

Duke 3, No. 7 Iowa 2 (OT)

Duke struck first against No. 7 national seed Iowa, as Ashley Stockdale opened the scoring with her seventh goal of the season to give the Blue Devils an early 1-0 advantage. The Hawkeyes found the equalizer early in the second quarter, sending the teams into halftime deadlocked at 1-1.

Stockdale struck again early in the third quarter, finishing off a feed from Alaina McVeigh for her second goal of the afternoon and eighth of the season to put Duke back in front, 2-1. Iowa answered five minutes later to level the match once again, and the 2-2 score held through the remainder of regulation to send the contest to overtime.

Just over four minutes into extra time, Madison Beach delivered the game-winner to send the Blue Devils into the NCAA Championship second round. Beach weaved through the Iowa defense before firing a backhanded shot from the left side of the cage past the goalkeeper for her second game-winning goal of the season.

Duke will face No. 2 national seed Maryland in College Park, Maryland, on Sunday, November 15, at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

No. 8 North Carolina 1, Miami (Ohio) 0

North Carolina grabbed the lead midway through the opening quarter when Dani Mendez recorded her second goal of the season. The fifth-year standout redirected a feed from Morgan O’Donnell in front of the cage and poked it past the goalkeeper to give the Tar Heels an early 1-0 advantage.

Mendez’s tally proved to be all North Carolina needed, as the Tar Heels’ defensive unit shut out Miami (Ohio) to secure a 1-0 victory and a spot in the second round.

North Carolina limited the MAC champions to just one shot and one penalty corner in the opening half and to six shots for the match. Goalkeeper Tessa Shahbo made three saves to preserve the clean sheet, including a pair of crucial stops in the fourth quarter.

North Carolina will face top-seeded Northwestern in the second round on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+ in Evanston, Illinois. Two of the nation’s premier programs, the Tar Heels and Wildcats will meet in the NCAA Championship for the fifth time in six seasons, with three of those previous matchups coming in the national semifinals or championship match.

No. 5 Princeton 4, Syracuse 0

Syracuse saw its season come to an end with a 4-0 setback to No. 5 national seed Princeton in the opening round of the NCAA Championship.

The Orange conclude the season with a 12-7 record after capturing the program’s first ACC Championship.

Benedict Rallies From 24 Points Down to Beat Kentucky State 52-45 in Overtime and Win the SIAC Championship

Published

53 minutes ago

November 15, 2026

KJ Butler

A Benedict receiver in a purple jersey leaps high above a Kentucky State defender to catch the football during the SIAC Championship game.

A Benedict receiver climbs above a Kentucky State defender to pull down a catch during the Tigers' 52-45 overtime win over Kentucky State in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.

Benedict College is a champion again. The Tigers came back from 24 points down on Saturday in Columbia, beating Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime to win the SIAC Championship, the third conference title in program history, and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs came with it.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — November 14, 2026

What started as a competitive conference championship matchup turned into an unforgettable day at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, as Benedict College delivered a remarkable comeback to defeat Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime, capturing its third conference football championship in program history.

With the SIAC Championship on the line, both teams came out ready to compete. The opening quarter featured an evenly matched battle, with both offenses finding opportunities while the defenses worked to establish control. Benedict struck first, taking a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.

Kentucky State Takes Over

However, the momentum quickly shifted in favor of Kentucky State.

The Thorobreds delivered a dominant second quarter, outscoring Benedict 17-0 before continuing their offensive surge in the third. Kentucky State eventually built a 24-point lead after putting together 31 unanswered points, leaving the Tigers with a mountain to climb.

The Comeback

But Benedict wasn’t ready to surrender its championship hopes.

Benedict's quarterback in a purple No. 3 jersey leaps over a diving Kentucky State defender while carrying the football. — *Benedict’s quarterback hurdles a diving Kentucky State tackler as the Tigers rally in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Tigers found another gear in the fourth quarter, putting together a furious comeback and scoring 24 points in the final period to pull even at 45-45. After trailing by as many as 24 points, Benedict had turned what appeared to be a comfortable Kentucky State victory into a championship thriller.

A Wild Final Minute

The final minute of regulation brought even more drama.

With approximately one minute remaining, Kentucky State punted the ball to Benedict, but the Tigers muffed the return, giving the Thorobreds another opportunity to steal the game. Kentucky State moved into position to score, but Benedict’s defense came up with a crucial stop, keeping the Thorobreds out of the end zone.

Benedict's No. 13 in a purple jersey leaps to catch the football with two Kentucky State defenders closing in and fans behind the sideline wall. — *Benedict’s No. 13 pulls down a catch between two Kentucky State defenders during the championship game. Photo by KJ Butler.*

With Kentucky State out of timeouts, clock management became critical. A delay-of-game penalty with nine seconds remaining resulted in a 10-second runoff, sending the game into overtime. The sequence proved costly for the Thorobreds, as a late-game miscommunication and clock-management mishap ended their opportunity to attempt a field goal before regulation expired.

Overtime Decides It

One more possession would determine the championship.

In overtime, Benedict wasted little time making its opportunity count. Quarterback Glenn Foreman connected with Demetris McKelvey on a touchdown pass, giving the Tigers the advantage and putting the pressure squarely on Kentucky State.

Two Benedict defenders collide with a Kentucky State ball carrier in the end zone, knocking the carrier's helmet into the air, with the Benedict band in the background. — *Benedict’s defense delivers a hit that knocks a Kentucky State helmet loose in the end zone during the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Thorobreds were unable to match the score, and Benedict’s sideline erupted in celebration.

After overcoming a 24-point deficit, surviving a dramatic final minute, and finishing the job in overtime, the Tigers walked away with a 52-45 victory and their third conference football championship in program history.

At Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, fans witnessed a comeback that will forever be remembered.

What Is Next

Benedict’s season rolls on into the NCAA Division II playoffs. The SIAC championship carries the conference’s automatic bid, and the Tigers entered the weekend as the No. 1 team in Super Region Two. Benedict learns its first-round opponent at the NCAA Division II selection show on Sunday, November 15 at 6 p.m. ET, with first-round games set for Saturday, November 21.

Kentucky State’s season is not finished either. The Thorobreds close at 8-3 after their first SIAC title game appearance since 2016, and they are expected to land an at-large playoff berth when the bracket is revealed on Sunday night. If their name is called, their first-round game is also Saturday, November 21.