No. 2 UNC women's lacrosse dominates No. 4 Syracuse, 16-8, at Dorrance Field

The No. 2 North Carolina women’s lacrosse team (4-0)  defeated No. 4 Syracuse (3-1),  16-8, on Saturday afternoon at Dorrance Field.

The Tar Heels dominated the offensive zone throughout the match, with junior attacker Kiley Mottice and first-year midfielder Eliza Osburn both scoring hat tricks. In comparison, Syracuse struggled offensively throughout the game.

The Humphrey connection put UNC up 1-0, after graduate attacker Ashley Humphrey found redshirt first-year attacker Chloe Humphrey open over the top of the goal for the score. 

The Orange immediately responded, after Emma Ward found Gracie Britton in similar fashion for the 1-1 equalizer. 

Senior attacker Olivia Vergano swiveled through the Syracuse defense for back-to-back goals to extend UNC’s lead to two.

Syracuse’s Molly Guzik snuck a strike into the right corner of the goal, chipping into the North Carolina lead 3-2.

Chloe Humphrey found Mottice waiting close by the goal for the center strike down low. The Tar Heels held a 4-2 advantage with six minutes remaining in the first.

North Carolina continued to be hot from the offensive end, after Osburn slashed the ball into a slim pocket of the net for her second goal of the season to extend the lead to three.

Vergano found Mottice waiting over the middle to convert for the Tar Heels’ third straight goal. UNC’s lead blossomed to 6-2 with four minutes to go in the quarter.

With 36 seconds to go in the quarter, Osburn sliced across the right for her second goal of the game. First-year midfielder Charlotte Corkins forced a Syracuse turnover and then raced across to find Ashley Humphrey waiting behind the goal, who tipped it to Chloe Humphrey at the top of the circle. 

Chloe Humphrey’s fifteenth goal of the season gave UNC an 8-2 lead going into the second quarter.

Vergano then shoveled it to Mottice, who went up and over for her third goal of the game. Just 19 seconds later, redshirt sophomore Marissa White found Humphrey through the Syracuse defense for an eighth-straight goal to reach double digits, 10-2.

The Tar Heels struck first in the second quarter with two goals from Mottice and Ashley Humphrey.

Syracuse’ Emma Ward scored the first goal for the Orange in the period. The Tar Heels responded quickly with shot from redshirt sophomore attacker Marissa White, to bring the score to 11-3.

The period ended with back and forth exchanges from both teams, with goals from North Carolina’s Ashley Humphrey and Syracuse’ Guzik, bringing the score to 12-5 entering halftime. 

Following the break, Syracuse appeared to have some newfound offensive energy. The Orange held possession for a few minutes, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Off a failed shot from Emma Muchnick, the Orange forced a turnover. 

Carolina continued to dominate offensively, as Kate Levy shot again, for her third goal of the season, and Osburn scored a free-position shot to bring the score to 14-5, and to earn a hat-trick. 

Syracuse continued to falter throughout the third quarter. After a failed free-position shot opportunity, North Carolina regained possession, not allowing the Orange a chance to fight back.

The Orange finally found success in the net toward the end of the third quarter. Off an assist from Caroline Trinkaus, Alexa Vogelman scored. The quarter ended with a score of 14-6.

The Tar Heels offensive streak began to waver slightly at the beginning of the final quarter, with three failed shots and multiple fouls giving power to the Orange. A successful groundball by Syracuse led to a strong possession and first goal of the period. An unassisted man-up goal by Emma Ward brought the score to 14-7. 

The period continued with a series of unsuccessful attempts from both teams, with multiple saves from both goalies. With two minutes to go, the Tar Heels certified their win with a goal by Addison Pattillo. In a last ditch effort, Syracuse scored with 1:33 to go. North Carolina responded with an unassisted goal by Addison Pattillo, to end the game 16-8.

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