No. 2 UNC women's lacrosse beats No. 1 Boston College, 12-11, to remain undefeated

The No. 2 UNC women’s lacrosse team (12-0, 7-0 ACC) defeated No. 1 Boston College (13-1, 5-1 ACC), 12-11, in a comeback victory to remain the only undefeated team in the nation. 

The Eagles took immediate control of the game as midfielder Devon Russell scored 46 seconds into the game.  

UNC junior attacker Kiley Mottice followed with a shot attempt but it was saved off the leg of BC goalie Shea Dolce. 

Boston College answered with three more goals to go up 4-0. The Tar Heels were forced to call a timeout as they faced their largest deficit of the season. 

“We had been there before against Northwestern, so I think we kind of relied on that experience, knowing that we can come back,” junior attacker Carolina Godine said.

North Carolina responded, as sophomore attacker Marissa White found the back of the net on a free position shot. 

White found herself again on the eight meter crease but this time Dolce made the save and left the net to clear the ball. However, Dolce turned the ball over and junior attacker Caroline Godine was left in front of an open net to put the Tar Heels within two. 

“We knew how prepared they would be, how talented they are, we just kind of live for these moments and just try to make the most out of it.,” Godine said.

BC graduate attacker Mia Mascone followed up with her nineteenth goal of the season with two minutes left in the quarter. 

The Tar Heels failed to convert on two more free position shots thanks to saves from Dolce. North Carolina finished the first quarter 1-6 on free position shots and down three. 

“In the first quarter, we hit two pipes and a foot, which is a great save,” head coach Jenny Levy said. “They weren't empty possessions, they were good looks that just didn't go our way. We just had to keep working through it.”

Senior attacker Olivia Vergano converted on a free position goal and first-year Chloe Humphrey scored just a minute later to bring the Tar Heels within one.  

Vergano lined up in front of the net and ripped off a shot that was saved by Dolce. Mottice recovered the ball in front of an open net to even the game at five and force BC to call a timeout. 

The Eagles responded with a goal to put them back up one followed by a UNC goal by first-year Eliza Osburn. 

Mascone ended the quarter with a free position goal on the right side of the net for her third of the game. The Eagles entered the half up one. 

First-year midfielder Kate Levy opened the scoring in the second half with a diving shot. The Eagles followed with a free position goal just under the crossbar. 

Boston College sophomore defender Lydia Colasante was charged with a yellow card which gave the Tar Heels an extra player. North Carolina took advantage and Humphrey converted for her 52nd goal of the season.  

The Tar Heels didn’t maintain the lead for long. 

Down one, graduate attacker Ashley Humphrey found first-year attacker Addison Pattillo open in front of the net to once again even the score heading into the final quarter. 

“I thought in the fourth quarter, we were able to get a little bit more rhythm, play a little smarter, " Levy said.

Boston College got on the board first in the final quarter with a spin move goal by attacker Rachel Clark.

BC received a yellow card after a crosscheck to the neck on Levy. With an extra player on the field, Godine found the left side of the net with four seconds left in the shot clock. 

Even at ten. 

With 6:24 to go, the Tar Heels took their first lead of the game off of a low shot by Osburn. 

The Eagles were called for their fifth yellow card of the game and once again up a player, Godine scored top left for her third goal of the game and first hat trick of the season. 

Timeout Boston College. 

With a man down, Clark responded with a shot low in the right corner to put the game back within one. 

“[The team is] just a great support system,” first-year goalie Lexi Zenk said. “So I feel like no matter what had happened during that game, we all would have just had each others back.”

The Eagles recovered the draw with three minutes to go in the game but gave it back to North Carolina on a turnover.

Mottice shot wide of the net. BC recovered the ball down one, with 23 seconds remaining in the game, in front of their own net. 

The Eagles turned over the ball with two seconds left in the game. 

The Tar Heels will travel to Greenville to take on ECU on Wednesday at 6 p.m.  

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