Strong First Half Lifts Women’s Lacrosse Past Syracuse, 16-8

Saturday, February 22

Chapel Hill, N.C.

11 a.m. ET

North Carolina

4-0

#4 Syracuse

3-1

Syracuse

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Strong First Half Lifts Women’s Lacrosse Past Syracuse, 16-8

February 22, 2025 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Twelve goals in the first half and a valiant defensive effort lifted No. 2 North Carolina women's lacrosse to a 16-8 win over No. 4 Syracuse in a top-5 matchup on Saturday at Dorrance Field in the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference opener.

Following the win, the Tar Heels remain undefeated at 4-0 and begin league play at 1-0. The Orange suffer their first loss of the season at the hands of UNC, dropping to 3-1 (0-1 ACC).

How It Happened

Both sides traded opening goals before Olivia Vergano netted two in a row which allowed UNC to jump out to a 3-1 lead within the opening six minutes.
Kiley Mottice's first goal with 6:30 on the clock sparked a 7-0 for the home team that lasted until the second quarter. UNC ended the first quarter on a 5-0 run to hold an 8-2 lead after 15 minutes.
Mottice made it a hat trick with the first goal of the second frame followed by Ashley Humphrey's tally to make it 10-2 in UNC's favor.
The Tar Heels and Orange went back and forth throughout the remainder of the half, but Carolina carried a sizable 12-5 lead into the break.
UNC commanded every aspect of the game iin the first 30 minutes: 28-14 shots, 19-10 shots on goal, 11-7 draw controls, 13-3 ground balls and 3-0 caused turnovers. Betty Nelson had five first-half saves.
A quieter third quarter offensively saw two Carolina goals which were netted by freshmen Kate Levy and Eliza Osburn, the latter who got a hat trick. UNC's defensive unit held Syracuse to just one goal in the third.
Nelson matched her career-high eight saves through 45 minutes as the score stood at 14-6.
Addison Pattillo recorded both goals for the Tar Heels in the fourth and final frame, putting a stamp on Carolina's decisive 16-8 win.

Inside the Box Score

UNC dominated every statistical category, including 51-27 in shots and 32-17 in shots on goal.
Mottice and Osburn paced the field with three goals each while A. Humphrey had a game-high five points behind two goals and a game-leading three assists.
Carolina finished with 18 draw controls to Syracuse's nine. Sarah Gresham had a game-high seven, her most as a Tar Heel.
The Tar Heels also had a 22-11 advantage in ground balls. Vergano led all players with three to tie her career high.
Mottice had a game-high-tying, and career-high-tying, two of UNC's seven caused turnovers. SU had three.
Nelson finished with a career-high nine saves between the pipes.

Tar Heel Tidbits

UNC's 51 shots was one off the program record of 52 set against Lehigh on March 16, 1997.
Carolina improves to 13-9 in the all-time series with Syracuse, including 6-2 at home.
Chloe Humphrey has scored UNC's first goal of the game in four straight contests.
Mottice netted her second hat trick of the season and seventh of her career. The junior's first goal marked the 50th of her career.
Osburn's hat trick was the first of her career. She had a career-high four points.

Up Next
The second-ranked Tar Heels are back on the road for a visit to Kentucky to take on Louisville on Friday, Feb. 28. Action begins at noon ET at the UofL Lacrosse Stadium and will air on ACCNX.

Carolina returns home on Tuesday, March 4, to welcome Temple to Dorrance Field with first draw set for 5 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Stay up to date with UNC women's lacrosse by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.