With his hat turned backwards, and a smile stretching from ear to ear, UNC head men’s lacrosse coach finally got a chance to say what he’s been waiting to say since taking the job back in 2009.

As he hugged the TV interviewer, Breschi couldn’t hold it back.

“We just won the National Championship, baby!”

In a thrilling game that saw each team rally from multiple goal deficits, sophomore attacker Chris Cloutier delivered the knockout blow in overtime–giving the Tar Heels a 14-13 upset over top-ranked Maryland at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Chris Cloutier scored the game-winner in overtime, his 14th goal of the Final Four. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

Chris Cloutier scored the game-winner in overtime, his 14th goal of the Final Four. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

UNC (12-6) picks up its fifth national title and first since 1991–on the same day that 1991 team was honored at halftime for their 25th anniversary.

It also marks the second day in a row the Tar Heels have won a lacrosse championship at the expense of a No. 1 ranked Maryland team.

The Terrapin men (17-3) saw their 16-game win streak come to a stunning halt on Monday, much like their women’s team watched a 26-game streak fall by the wayside on Sunday.

Cloutier’s goal–his fifth of the game–was the final moment of a thrilling comeback that saw UNC rally from two goals down in the final four minutes of regulation just to tie the game.

A questionable penalty on Luke Goldstock with just seconds to play forced the Tar Heels to then hold off the Terrapins’ man-advantage opportunity in overtime.

Maryland looked to have found the game-winner during that tense first minute of the extra period, but a a miraculous save by goalie Brian Balkam–who stopped 13 shots in the game–somehow kept UNC alive.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Brian Balkam made the save of his life to keep UNC alive in the extra period. He finished with 13 saves in the game. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

Brian Balkam made the save of his life to keep UNC alive in the extra period. He finished with 13 saves in the game. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

UNC earned a man-advantage of its own soon after Balkam’s save, which led to the goal heard all throughout Chapel Hill.

After scoring nine goals in the semifinals on Saturday, Cloutier again led the team in the biggest game of his career–finishing the Final Four with 14 goals.

The Ontario native also set a new NCAA Tournament record with 19 goals in UNC’s four games.

Goldstock had a hat trick for the Tar Heels in the first half, before eventually finishing with four goals.

Brian Cannon and Steve Pontrello each chipped in two goals apiece, while Patrick Kelly scored the goal that eventually sent the game to overtime.

The Terrapins were led by Matt Rambo’s three goal, three assist performance–as well as four goals from Connor Kelly.

Their effort helped Maryland fight back from an early 4-0 deficit to go ahead 8-7 at halftime.

Also key was the faceoff battle, as UNC won three of the first four faceoffs as it built the lead–before losing 10 of the next 13 while the Terrapins mounted their comeback.

During one stretch spanning the second and third quarters, the Tar Heels went over 17 minutes without scoring because they simply couldn’t get the quality possession time they had become accustomed to during the tournament run.

Breschi, in an attempt to gain some momentum, benched his faceoff specialist Stephen Kelly midway through the third quarter in favor of freshman Charles Kelly.

UNC becomes the first school to ever win the men's lacrosse national title with six losses. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

UNC becomes the first school to ever win the men’s lacrosse national title with six losses. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

The move didn’t end up making much of a difference, leading to Stephen Kelly’s return during the crucial fourth quarter run.

Despite playing from behind for most of the final 15 minutes, UNC never lost focus–finding a counter for every punch Maryland threw until it was able to finally tie the game for good.

Goldstock’s late penalty, however, which came for retaliating against a push from a Terrapin defender, looked–for a moment–like it would surely doom the Tar Heels.

However, a resilient defense–and a save for the ages from Balkam–killed the penalty and delivered UNC the momentum it needed to finish the job.

Game Notes:

  • UNC becomes the first school since Princeton in 1994 to win both the men’s and women’s lacrosse national championships.
  • It was the highest scoring NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Final since 2004.
  • The Tar Heels, unseeded in the tournament, became the first six-loss team to ever win the men’s lacrosse national title.
  • Prior to Cloutier’s game-winner, Maryland goalie Kyle Bernlohr made an impressive save on another shot by Cloutier right in front of the net. The scrum that followed led to a penalty on the Terrapins that gave UNC the game-deciding man advantage.

 

FINAL STATS