No. 4 UNC women's lacrosse overpowers No. 18 JMU, 14-2, in season opener

The No. 4 North Carolina women’s lacrosse team (1-0) overpowered No. 18 James Madison (0-1), 14-2, during UNC’s season opener on Friday afternoon at Dorrance Field. 

The Dukes took possession first off the draw control, but after several saved shots by sophomore goalie Betty Nelson, James Madison could not find the net. 

North Carolina struck first with redshirt first-year attacker Chloe Humphrey scoring her first collegiate goal just under 5 minutes into the game.  

After six minutes of back-and-forth play filled with failed cleared attempts and shots from both teams, UNC first-year midfielder Kate Levy answered with an unassisted goal off a free position shot.

James Madison could not find an answer to stop the Tar Heels in the first quarter, as UNC went on to score three quick back-to-back goals to put the Carolina Blue squad up 5-0.

“It felt amazing,” redshirt junior defender Brooklyn Walker-Welch said. “Our whole unit was together and it felt fun playing lacrosse and being back with everyone.”

Redshirt sophomore midfielder Kaleigh Harden started the second quarter with a goal after a turnover by the Dukes. But not shortly after James Madison’s first-year attacker Olivia Matthews scored following a failed clear attempt by the Tar Heels. 

It was foul after foul for North Carolina but the Dukes could not find a way to convert from these opportunities. 

North Carolina led 7-1 at halftime. 

Out of the locker room, UNC repeated their first-half possession dominance with a sister-to-sister connection. Graduate attacker Ashley Humphrey assisted Chloe Humphrey 35 seconds into the second half.

“It is so comforting having her out there,” Chloe Humphrey said. “Her IQ is through the roof so she kind of shows me how the game is supposed to be played, especially at the college level.”

North Carolina went on to score two more unanswered goals 33 seconds apart, to extend its lead to 10-1. Levy dominated on the draw control during the third quarter, securing four of the five possessions for the Tar Heels. 

James Madison refused to back down, but Nelson denied every shot the Dukes fired, racking up six saves by the early fourth quarter. 

Frustration rose quickly and the Dukes played an aggressive game. They acquired several yellow cards, at one point playing down three girls. North Carolina held James Madison to two goals. 

“I like what we did defensively holding a really good JMU team with a lot of threats to one goal until the very end,” head coach Jenny Levy said.

The Tar Heels will travel to Virginia to take on Liberty at 1 p.m. on Sunday. 

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