No. 4 UNC used an 8-1 run across the second and third quarters to blow open Sunday’s matchup with No. 3 Harvard in Maryland and roll to a 17-7 win. It was the first loss of the season for the Crimson, who had received a first-place vote in this week’s national poll.

UNC never trailed in the game, seizing control early after Owen Duffy scored the first of his career-high seven goals just 60 seconds into the game. Dominic Pietramala followed that up with a goal of his own less than three minutes later, and the Tar Heels were rolling.

Carolina’s game-changing run started early in the second quarter after Harvard had scored to cut the deficit to 3-2. It was Duffy who responded for the Tar Heels, finding the back of the net 49 seconds after the Crimson’s goal. James Matan and Mason Szewczyk would score back-to-back goals to make the score 6-2 in favor of UNC. After Harvard got one back, the Tar Heels then scored four goals in a span of 4:09 in the second quarter, giving UNC a comfortable 10-3 lead at halftime. Owen Dixon netted another goal early in the third quarter to cap the 8-1 run.

The Tar Heels finished the game strong, with Pietramala, Szewczyk and Duffy each scoring as part of a 4-0 run in the game’s final minutes. Duffy and Pietramala combined for 10 goals and 25 shots, nearly equaling Harvard’s team total of 35 shots. For Duffy, his seven-goal outburst came after the junior had been held scoreless against Army last weekend. He now has 21 goals in 10 games this season.

Sunday’s win is the fifth against a ranked foe this season for Carolina, three of which have come away from home. It was also the final non-conference game of the regular season for the Tar Heels, who will finish with four consecutive ACC matchups. That run begins next Saturday, April 4 at 2 p.m. against No. 5 Syracuse at Dorrance Field.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Dalton Wainscott

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