Miracle Comeback Sends UNC Women's Lacrosse Past No. 4 Northwestern in Final Four

Things were looking bleak for the UNC women’s lacrosse team in Baltimore Friday. Trailing 6-0 after a disastrous first quarter which included a 95-minute lightning delay, it appeared the team’s undefeated season would come crashing down in the Final Four for the second straight year.

It didn’t look any better for the Tar Heels midway through the fourth quarter, as they trailed 14-7 against a seemingly unstoppable Wildcat attack. Northwestern’s Lauren Gilbert had five goals to her name and UNC head coach Jenny Levy had to temporarily pull normally stout goalie Taylor Moreno in favor of freshman backup Alecia Nicholas.

Then, the Tar Heels hit the proverbial button.

In one of the most incredible comebacks in NCAA lacrosse history, the Tar Heels ripped off eight unanswered goals in the final 10 minutes, including four straight from Sam Geiersbach in the final 4:33, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, keep its undefeated season alive and advance to the national championship game.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲! 💥

On to the title game ➡️#GoHeels 🐏🥍 x @wellsfargo pic.twitter.com/bFmV7WBvWn

— UNC Women's Lacrosse (@uncwlax) May 27, 2022

Geiersbach’s final four goals in the Final Four gave her a total of five goals on the day to lead the team. Combined with her two assists, Geiersbach’s seven points were also tops on the team. Jamie Ortega and Ally Mastroianni each also put together hat tricks, with Ortega dishing out a trio of assists as well.

Caitlyn Wurzburger, Ortega and Scottie Rose Growney each scored in the breathless final 10 minutes, but it was Geiersbach who dominated play, scoring all five of her goals in the fourth quarter and rescuing Carolina’s season. Her performance stands as one of the most clutch in the history of the UNC women’s lacrosse program.

Moreno came back in for Nicholas after a brief respite and provided critical defense down the stretch. Two of her five saves came in the final quarter, including one on Gilbert at point-blank range with 28 seconds remaining to preserve Carolina’s comeback.

The Tar Heels’ draw controls proved to be a key factor in the late run, as Carolina won the draw following the first six of its eight goals in the fourth quarter. Northwestern ultimately won the draw control battle and made more saves, but it didn’t matter. Carolina is going to the national championship game.

UNC will know its opponent by the end of Friday. No. 2 Maryland and No. 3 Boston College will face off in the day’s second semifinal, with the championship scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m. in Baltimore. It will be broadcast on ESPN.

Featured image via UNC Women’s Lacrosse on Twitter

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Miracle Comeback Sends UNC Women’s Lacrosse Past No. 4 Northwestern in Final Four

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