Despite losing a four-goal lead in the final 5:28 of regulation, UNC found a winning goal in sudden-death overtime to beat No. 8 Virginia 16-15 in a thriller in Charlottesville Saturday.

In a topsy-turvy game, the Tar Heels found themselves trailing 3-0 inside the game’s first seven minutes, but led 6-3 by the end of the first quarter thanks to a flurry of goals, including two from Dominic Pietramala and Brady Wambach in a span of seven seconds. Owen Duffy then scored 49 seconds into the second quarter to cap a 7-0 UNC run.

The Tar Heels kept the Cavaliers at arm’s length for much of the game, never letting Virginia get closer than a two-goal deficit. Mason Szewczyk netted his first goal of the game with 6:45 to go in the fourth quarter, putting UNC up 15-11 and seemingly in a comfortable position. But Virginia wasted little time in whittling that lead away, scoring three goals in a span of 2:20 to pull to within 15-14. It was the closest the game had been since the score was 4-3 in the first quarter.

The Cavaliers waited until literally the final second of the game to equalize, scoring with one tick left on the clock after a failed UNC defensive clearance. The game went to overtime tied at 15-15.

In the overtime period, Carolina was unfazed by the momentum shift. After Wambach won the opening faceoff, Pietramala uncorked a shot which was saved by the Virginia goalie, but James Matan cleaned up the loose rebound and slotted home the game winner.

Saturday’s win was the first for UNC in overtime since 2021, and also marked the first time the Tar Heels have beaten Virginia in back-to-back seasons since 2016 and 2017. The Tar Heels are now 11-2 overall and 2-1 in ACC play and will wrap up the regular season when they host No. 15 Duke at Dorrance Field Saturday, April 25 at 12 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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