No. 2 UNC women's lacrosse dominates Temple, 19-3, at Dorrance Field

The No. 2 North Carolina women’s lacrosse team (6-0, 2-0 ACC) kicked off its three-game home stretch with a victory over Temple (1-5, 0-0 AAC), 19-3, on Tuesday evening on Dorrance Field.

The Tar Heels — who sit at No. 4 nationally in goals per game at  just over 17 — struggled to put on their normal offensive display in the first half. UNC only led by five goals going into the second half but turned things around in the third quarter by outscoring the Owls 7-0. Despite the large margin of victory, the Tar Heels committed 24 turnovers, double what they typically average.

“Most of the turnovers were on the offensive end because we thought we saw something that’s really not there,” head coach Jenny Levy said. “So we need to do a better job adjusting. And I thought [in the] second half we cleaned it up and did a great job.”

After controlling the first draw of the evening, North Carolina looked to the goal. Redshirt first-year Chloe Humphrey attacked from the right side with isolation and scored after only 30 seconds of play. Her sister, graduate attacker Ashley Humphrey, was next to find the back of the mesh off a crease roll cut. 

UNC put the pressure on Temple, which committed three turnovers in the first five minutes. The Owls got on the board following a North Carolina indirect foul and Chloe Humphrey scored another — her 20th of the season. Senior attacker Olivia Vergano, a transfer from Virginia Tech, then drew blood on a rip from distance, putting the Tar Heels up, 4-1. 

North Carolina scored twice more and Temple converted another after a UNC turnover. The Owls made both of their shots through the first 15 minutes. The Tar Heels led after the first quarter, 6-2, but not without 13 combined turnovers from both teams. 

“We love pushing in transition because we just have so many weapons that want to go to the goal,” Chloe Humphrey said. “I think it’s just working as a unit is going to be something that we can definitely work on.”

The theme of the second frame was sloppiness. UNC had its first goal of the quarter at the 12:22 mark but did not score again until there was about a minute left in the half. Temple, on the other hand, scored again off an unassisted shot. 

Chloe Humphrey returned the favor back to her sister as she found Ashley Humphrey awaiting the ball in front of the crease until the pass came. 

While the offensive unit made several careless passes leading to loss of possession, the defense held it down and caused seven Owl turnovers through the first half. North Carolina went into the second half leading, 8-3. 

While the Owls attempted their first clear of the half, redshirt junior defender Brooklyn Walker-Welch made a leaping interception. Walker-Welch’s efforts led to a goal from junior attacker Kylie Mottice off an assist from Chloe Humphrey. 

UNC found the net again while woman-up. Then, in the optimal spot for a righty, redshirt sophomore attacker Marissa White notched in a deep shot after, growing the North Carolina lead to eight. The pass came Ashley Humphrey, who tallied four assists in the game. 

North Carolina returned to its normal form in the third quarter by scoring five goals in the frame’s final six minutes. The Tar Heels went into the fourth quarter holding a 15-3 lead. 

“I thought [in the] third quarter we did a much better job of just moving the ball, making the easy pass, finding an easy shot,” Levy said. “We went deep in the shot clocks. We made their defense work.”

Through the final quarter, North Carolina just continued to conduct business as usual. The Tar Heels won nearly every draw in the frame and led that department 21-5 throughout the night. UNC did not allow Temple to score in the second half.

North Carolina sealed the victory, 19-3, to remain undefeated at home against the Owls in the all-time series history. 

Chloe Humphrey led the way for UNC with six goals while White and Ashley Humphrey each added three.

The Tar Heels will return to action against No. 14 Virginia on Dorrance Field on Saturday, March 8 at 2:30 p.m.

@meganosmithh

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com