A look back at No. 1 UNC women's lacrosse's previous matchups against No. 3 Boston College

With the North Carolina women’s lacrosse team’s comeback victory over No. 4 Northwestern on Friday, the Tar Heels have earned a spot in the national championship game.

Set to face off against the Tar Heels is a familiar foe — the Boston College Eagles.

The defending champs bested the No. 2 Maryland Terrapins by one goal on Friday evening, and have now booked their third meeting with North Carolina this season. The bout also marks the second time in two years that the programs have met during championship weekend.

Let’s rewind and look back at how the previous matches have played out between the premier women’s lacrosse programs of the ACC. 

May 28, 2021 — National Semifinal

Much like this season, the Tar Heels boasted an undefeated record and a top seed heading into last year's Final Four.

So when Boston College — a team UNC defeated by 12 goals earlier in the year — was slated to play in the semifinals, one would expect an easy win for North Carolina. 

Think again.

In the first 30 minutes of play, the once invincible Tar Heels looked depleted. Misfiring on promising opportunities and leaving holes in its defense, North Carolina found themselves trailing 8-5 at halftime. 

The brief stoppage proved to be no help to UNC.

Midway through the second half, the Tar Heels’ hole had deepened to five goals. Despite a last-ditch effort that saw North Carolina score four unanswered goals in the game’s final 13 minutes, UNC’s pursuit of the program’s first perfect season came up short, losing 11-10.

March 20, 2022 — Regular Season

After winning the national title in 2021, Boston College entered February ranked No. 1 in the country. 

And for the first month of play, the Eagles lived up to the hype. In its first eight contests, Boston College ripped off wins over top-20 opponents Northwestern, Denver and Virginia on its way to an undefeated record in the early goings of the regular season. 

But slated next for BC was another undefeated squad — then No. 2 North Carolina.

The top-two teams met in Chestnut Hill, Mass. with the top ranking on the line and last season’s loss still lingering on the minds of the Tar Heels.

In front of a boisterous crowd that topped out at almost 6,000 people, the Tar Heels look to attack early and silence the Boston College fans. Behind a first-half hat trick from graduate attacker Andie Aldave, North Carolina took a three-goal advantage into halftime. 

As the teams went blow-for-blow in the second half, UNC looked to be edging closer to victory, clinging on to a five-goal lead in the fourth quarter. 

Then, the Eagles came alive, churning off four goals in just over six minutes to bring the margin within one goal by the final minute of play. 

But time ran out for Boston College as a late turnover clinched the win for UNC and earned the Tar Heels a No. 1 ranking in the following week’s poll.

May 7, 2022 — ACC Championship Game

North Carolina and Boston College battled yet again in postseason play in early May, this time for the ACC title. 

Similar to the teams’ previous postseason matchup, the Eagles jumped out to an early lead. Thanks to five unassisted goals across BC’s attacking front, the visiting Eagles led, 6-4,  after two quarters of play.

But unlike the previous year’s contest, the halftime break seemed to rejuvenate the Tar Heels.

In the following quarter, Aldave tallied a hat trick in just over ten minutes and the defensive unit kept the Eagles scoreless. Come the end of the third period, North Carolina had captured a five-goal lead.

After fifth-year attacker Jamie Ortega netted her fourth goal of the game just over three minutes into the final quarter, UNC was well on its way to capturing its sixth-consecutive ACC title, winning 16-9.

@evanr0gers

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