University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, May 16
Hempstead, N.Y.
2:30 PM
North Carolina
vs
Syracuse
Photo by: DALTON T. WAINSCOTT
Men's Lacrosse Faces Syracuse In NCAA Quarterfinals Saturday
May 15, 2026 | Men's Lacrosse
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - A spot in Championship Weekend is on the line Saturday, as Atlantic Coast Conference foes North Carolina and Syracuse meet in the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Quarterfinals. Opening faceoff between the Tar Heels and Orange is set for 2:30 PM, televised on ESPNU.
Gameday Information
Date/Time: Saturday, May 16 - 2:30 PM
Location: James M. Shuart Stadium - Hempstead, N.Y.
Watch: ESPNU
Live Stats
Tickets
Last Time Out - First Round vs. UAlbany
• Dominic Pietramala's 10 goals fueled third-seeded North Carolina over UAlbany 24-6, last Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Tournament first round.
• Pietramala became Carolina's career goals and single-season goals leader, as well as breaking the UNC single-game and the NCAA Tournament's single-game goal records.
• Anthony Raio posted three goals and an assist, followed by two goals and an assist from Brevin Wilson.
• Three Tar Heels each dished out a pair of assists.
• Brady Wambach won 15 faceoffs and collected 10 ground balls. In the first half, Wambach broke Carolina's single-season faceoff wins record, passing Shane Walterhoefer's 269 wins in 2009.
• Saturday was Carolina's eighth home win of 2026, the most in a season since 2015.
• In his first career start, goalkeeper Kent Goode made eight saves.
A Win Over Syracuse Would...
• Give Carolina their 16th win over Syracuse, the third of 2026.
• Help the Tar Heels win its 37th NCAA Tournament win, and advance to their 15th Final Four in program history.
• Help Carolina advance to their first Championship Weekend appearance since 2021, and the third under Coach Breschi (2016, 2021).
• Be Coach Breschi's 275th career win as head coach, and 183rd victory leading the Tar Heels.
Petro's Recording Breaking Day
• In the NCAA First Round versus UAlbany, attackman Dominic Pietramala's record breaking day lifted the Tar Heels over the Great Danes, with 10 goals scored.
• In the contest, the Lutherville, Md. native set the following marks:
- UNC's Career Goals Record
- UNC's Single-Season Goals Record
- UNC's Single-Game Goals Record
- Tied UNC's Single-Half Goals Record
- NCAA Tournament Single-Game Goals Record
- Second-most goals ever in a Division I game
• Pietramala is the first ACC player to ever score 10-or-more goals in a game, and the 21st player in Division I history to post 10-plus goals in a contest.
• Pietramala tied or outscored eight of the 16 teams playing in last weekend's first round: No. 5 Virginia (10), No. 8 Penn State (10), Johns Hopkins (9), No. 7 Cornell (8), Marist (8), Army (6), UAlbany (6), Jacksonville (5).
Third Meeting Versus Cuse
• Saturday is the third matchup between the programs in 2026, with the Tar Heels winning the previous two (April 4: 14-9, May 1: 12-10).
• The third meeting occurrence is the fifth time in program history facing a team three times in the same season:
- 1994 vs. Virginia
- 2007 vs. Duke
- 2009 vs. Duke
- 2011 vs. Maryland
- 2026 vs. Syracuse
Wambach At The Stripe
• Entering Saturday, faceoff specialist Brady Wambach ranks third among active Division I players with 649 faceoff wins:
1. Micah Hanson (Canisius): 739
2. Andrew McMeekin (Princeton): 670
3. Brady Wambach (North Carolina): 649
- 2024: 146 faceoff wins
- 2025: 225 faceoff wins
- 2026: 278 faceoff wins
4. Jack Cascadden (Cornell): 595
5. John Mullen (Syracuse): 592
Youngsters In The Midfield
• The Tar Heel second midfield group of Luke Bair, Gary Merrill and Anthony Raio have posted a combined 37 goals and 19 assists this season.
• Carolina leads the country is second midfield goals, and is one of three teams with 30+ goals:
1. North Carolina: 37
2. Princeton: 35
Penn State: 35
Gettin' Defensive
• Since the arrival of defensive coordinator Dave Pietramala prior to the 2024 season, Carolina is 23-0 when allowing nine-or-fewer goals, and 114-13 under head coach Joe Breschi during his career at UNC when giving up single-digit goals.
• This season, the Tar Heels are 9-0 when allowing nine-or-fewer goals.
Gameday Information
Date/Time: Saturday, May 16 - 2:30 PM
Location: James M. Shuart Stadium - Hempstead, N.Y.
Watch: ESPNU
Live Stats
Tickets
Last Time Out - First Round vs. UAlbany
• Dominic Pietramala's 10 goals fueled third-seeded North Carolina over UAlbany 24-6, last Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Tournament first round.
• Pietramala became Carolina's career goals and single-season goals leader, as well as breaking the UNC single-game and the NCAA Tournament's single-game goal records.
• Anthony Raio posted three goals and an assist, followed by two goals and an assist from Brevin Wilson.
• Three Tar Heels each dished out a pair of assists.
• Brady Wambach won 15 faceoffs and collected 10 ground balls. In the first half, Wambach broke Carolina's single-season faceoff wins record, passing Shane Walterhoefer's 269 wins in 2009.
• Saturday was Carolina's eighth home win of 2026, the most in a season since 2015.
• In his first career start, goalkeeper Kent Goode made eight saves.
A Win Over Syracuse Would...
• Give Carolina their 16th win over Syracuse, the third of 2026.
• Help the Tar Heels win its 37th NCAA Tournament win, and advance to their 15th Final Four in program history.
• Help Carolina advance to their first Championship Weekend appearance since 2021, and the third under Coach Breschi (2016, 2021).
• Be Coach Breschi's 275th career win as head coach, and 183rd victory leading the Tar Heels.
Petro's Recording Breaking Day
• In the NCAA First Round versus UAlbany, attackman Dominic Pietramala's record breaking day lifted the Tar Heels over the Great Danes, with 10 goals scored.
• In the contest, the Lutherville, Md. native set the following marks:
- UNC's Career Goals Record
- UNC's Single-Season Goals Record
- UNC's Single-Game Goals Record
- Tied UNC's Single-Half Goals Record
- NCAA Tournament Single-Game Goals Record
- Second-most goals ever in a Division I game
• Pietramala is the first ACC player to ever score 10-or-more goals in a game, and the 21st player in Division I history to post 10-plus goals in a contest.
• Pietramala tied or outscored eight of the 16 teams playing in last weekend's first round: No. 5 Virginia (10), No. 8 Penn State (10), Johns Hopkins (9), No. 7 Cornell (8), Marist (8), Army (6), UAlbany (6), Jacksonville (5).
Third Meeting Versus Cuse
• Saturday is the third matchup between the programs in 2026, with the Tar Heels winning the previous two (April 4: 14-9, May 1: 12-10).
• The third meeting occurrence is the fifth time in program history facing a team three times in the same season:
- 1994 vs. Virginia
- 2007 vs. Duke
- 2009 vs. Duke
- 2011 vs. Maryland
- 2026 vs. Syracuse
Wambach At The Stripe
• Entering Saturday, faceoff specialist Brady Wambach ranks third among active Division I players with 649 faceoff wins:
1. Micah Hanson (Canisius): 739
2. Andrew McMeekin (Princeton): 670
3. Brady Wambach (North Carolina): 649
- 2024: 146 faceoff wins
- 2025: 225 faceoff wins
- 2026: 278 faceoff wins
4. Jack Cascadden (Cornell): 595
5. John Mullen (Syracuse): 592
Youngsters In The Midfield
• The Tar Heel second midfield group of Luke Bair, Gary Merrill and Anthony Raio have posted a combined 37 goals and 19 assists this season.
• Carolina leads the country is second midfield goals, and is one of three teams with 30+ goals:
1. North Carolina: 37
2. Princeton: 35
Penn State: 35
Gettin' Defensive
• Since the arrival of defensive coordinator Dave Pietramala prior to the 2024 season, Carolina is 23-0 when allowing nine-or-fewer goals, and 114-13 under head coach Joe Breschi during his career at UNC when giving up single-digit goals.
• This season, the Tar Heels are 9-0 when allowing nine-or-fewer goals.
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Men's Lacrosse
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfielder
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attackman
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfielder
/ Men's Lacrosse
Faceoff
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attackman
/ Men's LacrosseUNC Baseball: Diamond Heels Win Battle at NC State in Series Opener, 9-4
Friday, May 15
UNC Women's Lacrosse: Tar Heels Move On to NCAA Semis with Win vs Stanford, 14-11
Friday, May 15
Carolina Football: The Process - Episode 1
Wednesday, May 13
UNC Baseball: Long Ball Sends Heels Over UNCW, 13-7
Wednesday, May 13