July 8, 2002

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.--The Southern Charm, a team based in Chapel Hill and populated with current and former UNC players, won its fourth consecutive United Airlines Field Hockey League title Saturday at the U.S. Field Hockey National Training Center. The Charm beat the Midwest Cyclones 5-0 in the title game behind three goals from former Australian Olympian Jackie Pereira and one each from Wake Forest junior Kelly Doton and UNC alum Cindy Werley, now an assistant coach at Duke.

Also starting for the Charm in the title game were rising UNC seniors Amy Tran and Meredith Keller, as well as Abby Martin and Abbey Woolley, seniors on the 2001 team. Stephanie Fuller, another senior on the 2002 squad, played quality minutes off the bench.

Nick Conway, associate head coach at UNC, directed the team for the second year. Carolina head coach Karen Shelton, who assisted Conway, coached the Charm to its first two titles in 1999 and 20000.

In its semifinal game on Friday, the Charm beat the Tidewater Tempest 5-1 to advance. Woolley scored two goals and Martin added another. Werley, a 1996 U.S. Olympian, also scored in the game. In the other semifinal game, the Cyclones beat the Metro Rush 6-3 behind a hat trick from UNC sophomore Kelsey Keeran.

Tar Heels after the championship game: (L to R) Nick Conway, Kelsey Keeran, Amy Tran, Cindy Werley, Abbey Woolley, Abby Martin, Stephanie Fuller, Meredith Keller and Karen Shelton

The elite-level league is administered by the U.S. Field Hockey Association, the sport's governing body in the U.S. Besides providing high-level summertime competition, the league's blend of high school, collegiate and post-collegiate players makes for a constant learning experience. "The fact that our players get to compete with older players like Jackie Pereira is great for them," Conway says. "Watching her play educated everyone. All the young players learn a great deal."