UNC field hockey star recreates iconic Michael Jordan photo after fourth title

North Carolina star forward Erin Matson celebrated in style Sunday after winning her fourth national championship as a member of the Tar Heels.

Just GOAT things 🏆🐐#GoHeels x #GDTBATH
MJ photo credit: Andrew Bernstein/1996 pic.twitter.com/vZQ0XNNtbY

— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) November 20, 2022

The fifth-year senior, who won ACC Offensive Player of the Year for a record fifth time in 2022, scored the game-winning goal in UNC’s 2-1 win over Northwestern. The ACC all-time points leader, she has had one of the greatest field hockey careers in NCAA history.

The recreation of Michael Jordan’s iconic photo celebration from his time with the Chicago Bulls becomes even more fitting when you remember Jordan also won an NCAA title with the Tar Heels.

Her goal Sunday – the 137th goal of her career, which tops UNC’s career goals list – earned her the Most Outstanding Player award.

As for those that put an asterisk next to her accolades due to her fifth year of eligibility, Matson said she finds those remarks “comical,” but she doesn’t pay much them much attention.

“You see tweets and stuff like that, and you see people clapping back like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s only because of the COVID rule,’” she said. “Well, OK, fine, we have four years now of people who can do it. Let’s see how many people can do it, because it’s still rare.”