The top-ranked UNC men’s and women’s lacrosse teams were both in action Friday evening, and both earned wins to continue their unbeaten starts to 2026.
On the women’s side, the Tar Heels hosted Florida State at Dorrance Field in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Carolina wasted no time getting off to a hot start, as Kate Levy scored after just 42 seconds to give UNC a 1-0 lead. Chloe Humphrey added two more in the next 3:22 of game time, and the rout was on from there. Carolina led 8-0 before Florida State finally found the back of the net, then led 16-2 at halftime and 22-2 after three quarters. By the time the final horn sounded, UNC had set a new program record for goals in a game in the 27-3 win.
Humphrey secured her 23rd career hat trick in 27 career games by the second quarter, and the reigning national player of the year finished her day with seven goals to tie her career high for a single game. Levy, Addison Pattillo and Eliza Osburn each also scored hat tricks. As a team, UNC outshot Florida State 34-11.
Carolina is now 5-0 overall, 3-0 in ACC play and has won 27 consecutive games. The Tar Heels have scored at least 20 goals in three consecutive games and have won those three games by a combined score of 73-15. Up next, UNC will face No. 9 Clemson on the road Wednesday at 6 p.m.
On the men’s side, UNC traveled to Philadelphia for the first of a two-game road trip. In the Tar Heels’ first action since ascending to the No. 1 ranking, the Tar Heels scored first off the stick of Dominic Pietramala. Brevin Wilson would net two more goals before the end of the first quarter, giving UNC a 3-1 lead.
Penn dominated the opening minutes of the second quarter, netting four unanswered goals in just 3:06 of game time to flip the scoreboard. Pietramala came to UNC’s rescue, scoring a pair of goals in the final 1:08 of the half, including a critical score with five seconds remaining to knot the game at 5-5. Owen Duffy struck early in the third quarter, and Carolina led again at 6-5.
The two teams traded punches until Carolina used a 4-1 run across a span of roughly 15 minutes to take a three-goal lead at 11-8 with 4:19 remaining. Pietramala, Duffy and Brady Wambach all scored during the run. The Quakers would get one goal back, but could not complete the rally in the 11-9 Carolina win.
Pietramala scored five goals for the second consecutive game, while Duffy finished with three of UNC’s five assists. In total, Carolina outshot Penn 41-25 and won 16 of the 23 total face-offs.
The good times wouldn’t last for Carolina, though, as the Tar Heels took their first loss of the season Sunday at No. 7 Princeton.
The Tigers led for much of the afternoon, going up by as many as three goals at 5-2 late in the second quarter. UNC steadied itself thanks to goals from Owen Duffy and Luke Bair in the final 1:25 of the quarter, but once again found itself down three goals at 8-5 in the third quarter.
Carolina finally made its move with four unanswered goals across the next 7:40 of game time, with Luke Macaluso, Dominic Pietramala, Gary Merrill and Brevin Wilson each finding the back of the net to give UNC its first lead at 9-8.
Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, Wilson’s goal was their last of the game. Princeton tied the score at 9-9 less than two minutes later, then took the lead back for good with 3:56 remaining. The Tigers sealed the win with another goal at the 2:38 mark to take a two-goal lead.
UNC outshot Princeton 56-33 and held a 34-23 edge in shots on goal, but Tiger goalie Ryan Croddick stood on his head with 25 saves to keep the Tar Heel offense quiet. Carolina goalie Josh Marcus made 12 saves.
UNC is now 5-1 on the season. The Tar Heels will return home Saturday when they host Brown in Chapel Hill at 1 p.m. The game will be played in Kenan Stadium.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Dalton Wainscott
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