No. 1 UNC saw its 31-game winning streak, which stretched back to the beginning of the 2025 season, snapped in a 17-16 overtime loss to No. 12 Northwestern at Dorrance Field Wednesday night. It was UNC’s first home loss in exactly two years — a result which also came at the hands of Northwestern.
The Tar Heels appeared poised for another strong showing after a pair of Chloe Humphrey goals in the final minute of the first quarter and opening moments of the second quarter gave UNC a 5-2 lead. But the visiting Wildcats hung tough, cutting that deficit to 5-4 within less than two minutes and staying within a two-goal margin or less until midway through the third quarter. That was when Northwestern made its move, scoring four unanswered goals in just 3:24 to turn a 12-10 deficit into a 14-12 lead.
UNC rallied to tie the game at multiple junctures. Trailing 16-15 with five minutes to go, Caroline Godine found the back of the net to even the score at 16-16. Godine and Addison Pattillo each had shots to potentially give Carolina the lead back in the final minutes of regulation, but both efforts were saved by Northwestern goalie Jenika Cuocco.
In sudden-victory overtime, the Tar Heels again had a shot to win the game on a free position attempt from Kiley Mottice, but Cuocco again stood tall to make the stop. Less than a minute later, the Wildcats’ Madison Taylor scored to secure the upset.
Cuocco made 12 stops in total for Northwestern, helping to negate UNC’s 37-26 advantage in total shots. The two Tar Heel goalies made just six combined saves. Humphrey finished with a double hat trick of six goals, while Eliza Osburn added three. Taylor’s goal made her one of three Wildcats to score a hat trick.
Wednesday’s loss drops UNC to 9-1 on the season. The Tar Heels will return to action when they host East Carolina at Dorrance Field Saturday at 12 p.m.
Featured image via UNC Women’s Lacrosse on Twitter
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