Win an MIAA championship as a sophomore pole that very few players even dared to dodge, and you get a bit of a reputation for being one of the best defensemen in the region. Sometimes reputations are accurate. In Hayden’s case, his was also bolstered by a lights-out summer campaign for 3d New England. UNC is traditionally very active on the first day of the window, and this commitment continues that trend. Hayden is the prototypical ACC defender – strong, quick, and mean. Another lefty, he’s a perfect fit for the continually improving Tar Heel defense.

Hanging your stick around Hayden seems to be an ill-advised decision
— he executed a downright nasty over-the-head check on an unsuspecting FOGO right in front of me that directly led to a goal. An excitable left-hander who is the type of defender who will follow his matchup into the parking lot, he has outstanding hands and is always hunting takeaways. He’s smooth and dependable off the ground, so he provides a tremendous boost off the wings and in the middle of the field. I’m already looking forward to seeing more of his game, especially in a more structured team setting.