In a matchup of the two top-ranked teams in the nation, No. 2 Notre Dame got the better of No. 1 UNC Saturday in South Bend, outscoring the Tar Heels 6-2 in the second half to earn a 10-5 win.

Carolina started on the front foot after Dominic Pietramala and Brevin Wilson each netted goals in the first quarter for a 2-0 lead. But the dangerous Pietramala was held in check the rest of the way, as was the rest of UNC’s offense. Notre Dame scored four unanswered goals in the second quarter to go in front 4-2. Carolina would tie the game at 4-4 and then cut a 6-4 Irish lead to 6-5 with 4:38 left in the third quarter, but that was the last time the Tar Heels would find the back of the net.

Notre Dame scored the game’s final four goals, holding UNC without a goal for the last 19:38 of game time. It wasn’t for a lack of trying — Carolina fired off 12 total shots (six on goal) in the fourth quarter. Overall, the two teams played each other fairly even statistically: total shots were 43-40 in favor of UNC, while shots on target were 22-20 in favor of Notre Dame. Irish goalie Thomas Ricciardelli made 15 saves, including six in the final 15 minutes.

Pietramala would not score again after his opening goal. His one total goal came after he  had scored eight in UNC’s previous two games.

Carolina is now 10-2 on the season and 1-1 in ACC play. The Tar Heels will stay on the road next weekend when they visit No. 9 Virginia in Charlottesville.

 

Featured image via UNC Men’s Lacrosse on Twitter

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