King Philip’s Meehan a Two-Time Champ at UNC

Two days after the season came to an end, Alli Meehan was still trying to come to grips with the fact that she was a two-time national champion. The former King Philip star was in the locker room at Karen Shelton Stadium, packing up some of her gear for the Thanksgiving break, and the scene hadn’t changed from Sunday afternoon’s final when North Carolina overcame Northwestern in a thrilling shootout.

“I was like, holy crap that actually did happen,” Meehan reflected. She admitted that it was still sinking in as she started reliving some of the moments from the national championship game.

“That was the most stressful field hockey game that I’ve ever been a part of,” she continued. “There were so many moments in the game that could’ve gone the other way and in the back of my head I was like, we’re not losing this game. No matter how long it’s going to take, we’re going to find a way to do it.”

The final was tied after the first five shots, so it went into sudden death. UNC goalie Maddie Kahn saved Northwestern’s shot, opening the door for Ryleigh Heck to bury the game-winner and set off celebrations in front of the largest home crowd in program history.

“It went in, backboard, and honestly it was just a blur,” Meehan said, the smile on her face clear even over the phone. “We were all just sprinting, just so much joy, and it’s a moment that gives me chills every time I look back on it.”

“It’s just been an insane experience and to do it on our home field with our new coach, you can’t beat it.”

Meehan is no stranger to successful teams. The former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year led KP to back-to-back league titles in 2017 and 2018, reaching the Div. 1 South semifinals three straight years and winning the South title in 2017. She scored 52 points her senior season.

Following her stellar high school career, Meehan started her college career at Northeastern. In 2019, she was second on the Huskies in goals (11) and points (28) and tied for second in assists (six). Meehan was named to the All-CAA second team and the conference’s All-Rookie team. Then COVID hit and with it went the 2020-21 season.

“At that point, there were a lot of things up in the air with everyone’s lives and I was just thinking maybe I could try, I’ve always wanted to play in the ACC,” Meehan explained. “I’m so competitive and I want to play with the best and be the best.”

With no season to play, Meehan started the transfer process by sending out emails to coaches across the country, with one notable exception. She said, “One night I was going through emails on the couch and my mom was like, ‘Alli you didn’t send an email to UNC, you should just send one. I was like, you know what, I’ll just try it.”

Meehan was on the verge of committing to Boston College, another local school but one that would fulfill her dream of playing in the ultra-competitive ACC. After speaking with the Eagles coaches, she was ready to make it official, but then she got a call from UNC’s legendary coach Karen Shelton.

“I was just baffled, blown away, starstruck, all of the above, and I committed over the phone right then and there,” Meehan said. “When she’s calling you and says she wants you to be part of the team and she sees value in you, I couldn’t pass that up. I’d say it’s worked out pretty well.”

As a sophomore in 2021, Meehan played in 12 games and started twice. Last season, Meehan played in 10 games and got her first UNC goal and assist in a three-point game against California. She got into 15 games and made four starts this year, adding her second UNC goal. It is a very different role than she played at King Philip and at Northeastern, not being on the field every minute or being on the score sheet every game, but she embraces the different ways that she can make an impact on the team.

“Maybe I scored more points at Northeastern but I wouldn’t trade what I’m doing now, competing with the best of the best, being surrounded by the best people, winning championships,” Meehan said. “It’s just so much bigger than myself. Me doing whatever I can to help the team and set them up for success gives me a lot of pride.”

It has been a transition in other ways as well. “Like playing with Erin Matson instead of looking at her highlight reels on Instagram?” Meehan joked. She was living her dream of being on the sport’s biggest stages and being part of a team competing for the national title every season. Even for a player as accomplished as Meehan, it still took time to understand that she deserved to be playing at that level.

“When you get into a game for the first time and you start for the first time, you want to do a million things and you want to show everyone all that you have,” she explained. “You just have to do your job and keep things simple.”

Meehan added, “Each season I’ve been given the opportunity to start multiple games and each time I get that chance it’s like, okay obviously they see something in me and believe in me and I do have value. This season probably felt different because I’m a senior and I got more respect from the younger girls and the girls in my class and all season I just felt more confident and comfortable out there in my role.”

Because of the lost year during the pandemic, Meehan’s UNC career isn’t over. She will be back next fall, as the Tar Heels go after a three-peat. She will also get the unique experience of playing with her sister Ava, a senior at Bishop Feehan, who committed to UNC this year.

“We’re both forwards so hopefully we get that sister connection out there,” she said. We just play in the driveway together and we do everything else together but actually being here together is so special.”

Meehan has already started having conversations with her sister about the challenges on and off the field of playing for the nation’s top program. “You need to be mentally strong because one day you could be starting, one day you might not, things change constantly,” she said. “She’s seen my journey and I’ve shared all the ups and downs with her so she knows that it’s not going to be a straight path.”

While the most recent championship is still sinking in, Meehan is grateful that this won’t be the end of the journey at UNC or in her field hockey career. She can reflect on the national title while still looking forward to the work that she will be doing to get ready for 2024.

“It’s another opportunity for me to give everything I have to this sport and to give it all I’ve got because there are so many people who’ve helped me along the way and I just want to make them proud,” Meehan explained. “

“Another year with Erin is amazing, another year with my best friends is amazing, a year with my sister unreal. The season ended yesterday and I’m already thinking about skills and how I can differentiate myself for next year.”