Top-seeded UNC women's lacrosse wins ACC championship for first time since 2022

CHARLOTTE — Top-seeded UNC women’s lacrosse (18-0, 9-0 ACC) defeated No. 2 seed Boston College (17-2, 8-1 ACC), 14-12, Sunday afternoon at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The Tar Heels won the ACC championship title for the first time since 2022. 

Both teams came out aggressive, but the Eagles netted the first of the game when Mia Mascone bounced the ball into the goal. UNC responded with back-to-back goals by senior attacker Olivia Vergano, who snuck the ball in between the legs of Shea Dolce, and first-year midfielder Eliza Osburn who slammed one in from the middle. 

A minute later, Mascone tied it back at two, and back-to-back saves by redshirt-first-year goalie Betty Nelson kept Boston College at bay.

Aggressive defense by the Eagles caused some untimely Tar Heels turnovers allowed Emma LoPinto the chance to notch Boston College’s third goal on the day. 

Coming out of a media timeout, redshirt first-year attacker Chloe Humphrey ran around her defender to tie the game 3-3 with about five minutes remaining in the first quarter. 

Shortly after, Rachel Clark outran redshirt junior defender Sam Forrest to put the Eagles back up. But the lead was short lived as junior attacker Caroline Godine ran from behind the goal and passed it to junior attacker Kiley Mottice to put the game at four. 

With Forrest sitting out with a green card, Boston College took advantage of their extra player as Molly Driscoll knocked one in behind Nelson. 

On the next play, Chloe Humphrey connected with Osburn who under-hand netted the goal to end the first quarter 5-5. 

Boston College entered the second quarter rolling, but North Carolina’s defense held them, causing a turnover that resulted in Chloe’s Humphrey second goal of the day.

First-year midfielder Kate Levy knocked Mascone’s stick, causing her to drop the ball and graduate midfielder Sophie Student was there to pick it up. Running up the field, she passed the ball Forrest, who was wide open and slammed in her second goal of the season and gave the Tar Heels a two-point lead.

Forrest had another scoop and run, setting up a free position shot for Vergano that was saved by Dolce. 

The Eagles tied the game at seven after Mckenna Davis and Mascone found the back of the net. The score remained 7-7 at halftime. 

The Tar Heels came out of the locker room hot. Osburn controlled the draw and took it to the house, scoring in the first eight seconds back on the field. The Eagles were quick to respond with a free position goal by Davis, but a challenge by North Carolina reversed the call. 

Boston College redeemed itself with a goal by Driscoll. Saves by both Dolce and Nelson kept the game tied at eight halfway through the third quarter. 

With under two minutes left in the quarter, Davis scored her second of the game and gave BC a point advantage entering the final quarter. 

After several missed shots in the third, redshirt sophomore attacker Marissa White finally found the back of the net to open the fourth.

About three minutes into the quarter, the Eagles called a timeout. Out of the break, Boston College had back-to-back goals from Kylee Colbert and Clark to give them a quick two-point lead. 

A minute later, Levy connected with Godine who was wide open to the left of the net and sent the ball low and into the net. And shortly after, Chloe Humphrey connected with first-year attacker Addison Pattillo to tie the game again at 11. 

With redshirt-sophomore midfielder Kaleigh Harden winning the draw control, UNC’s offense was able to hold the ball for a couple minutes before White gave North Carolina a one-point lead again with about five minutes left. 

With the ball loose, Levy picked it up and sprinted to the house, quickly extending the lead to 13-11 and forcing Boston College to call a timeout.

With a little over a minute left, Driscoll netted her free position shot to shorten the lead back down to one. 

But with Student controlling the draw, North Carolina kept offensive possession for almost a minute. Chloe Humphrey netted the 14th goal to give UNC the win.

The Tar Heels will wait to hear where they stand in the NCAA championships bracket when the Selection show airs on ESPNU next Sunday. 

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