Trailing 11-9 against No. 8 seed Stony Brook with just under nine minutes left on the clock Saturday afternoon at Dorrance Field, the top-ranked UNC women’s lacrosse team shifted into overdrive and reeled off five straight goals to win the NCAA Quarterfinal game 14-11 and clinch a spot in the Final Four.

Scottie Rose Growney and Jamie Ortega scored the first two goals of the run to tie the game, while Tayler Warehim netted the eventual game-winner with 4:19 remaining.

UNC (20-0) then received insurance goals from Ally Mastroianni and Katie Hoeg to seal the deal on a wild comeback victory for a team that has largely steamrolled through the season to this point.

Ortega led the team with four goals and three assists in the game, with Hoeg right behind with a goal and five assists. Warehime added three goals and Caitlyn Wurzburger chipped in two of her own.

UNC led 6-4 at halftime on Sunday, but Stony Brook (16-3) came out of the break and scored seven of the next 10 goals to go ahead by two heading into the final minutes preceding the Tar Heel rally.

Stony Brook ends the season with three total losses, two of which came to UNC–first in the season opener back on Feb. 14 and now in the season finale as part of the NCAA Tournament.

The Tar Heels extended their program-record winning streak to 27 games with the win.

“It didn’t surprise me that it was close, because I anticipated that based on how their defense plays and what their offense does,” UNC head coach Jenny Levy said afterwards. “I’m really proud of the way my upperclassmen stepped up for us. At eight minutes, down by two [goals], I was curious to see how we’d handle it. We work on situations all the time in practice, so I knew we had it in us. We just had to buckle down and get it done.”

Up Next:

The Tar Heels will head to Towson, Maryland next, where they will take on No. 4 seed Boston College in the semifinals on Friday, May 28 at noon. UNC defeated the Eagles 21-9 in their previous meeting back on March 6.

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

 

Related Stories
‹
Women's Lacrosse: Undefeated UNC Named Top Overall Seed for NCAA Tournament
The UNC women’s lacrosse team — which has won its last 25 games dating back to 2020 — earned the No. 1 overall seed on Sunday for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Head coach Jenny Levy’s squad is a perfect 18-0 this season and recently steamrolled through the ACC Tournament for the program’s fifth consecutive conference […]
No. 1 UNC Women's Lacrosse Handles No. 6 Stony Brook in Season Opener
The top-ranked UNC women’s lacrosse team opened its season on Sunday at Dorrance Field with a dominant 14-7 victory over No. 6 Stony Brook. Senior Katie Hoeg had two goals and five assists to lead the Tar Heels with seven points, while junior Jamie Ortega tallied three goals and two assists to finish just behind […]
Eight Tar Heels Selected to Women's Lacrosse Academic All-ACC Team
A total of eight Tar Heels were named to the Academic All-ACC women’s lacrosse team on Tuesday, highlighted by five players who recently earned First Team All-American status as well. Attackers Katie Hoeg and Jamie Ortega joined midfielder Ally Mastroianni, defender Emma Trenchard and goalkeeper Taylor Moreno as First Team All-Americans who also earned Academic […]
Women's Lacrosse: No. 4 Boston College Ends No. 1 UNC's Perfect Season
The most dominant team in the country all year long, the top-ranked Tar Heels saw their perfect season come to a crashing halt on Friday afternoon in Towson, Maryland — as No. 4 Boston College held on for an 11-10 upset victory in the NCAA Tournament Semifinals. It wasn’t a lack of opportunities that cost […]
Katie Hoeg Selected as Kellie Thompson Shiley Award Winner
UNC senior attacker Katie Hoeg was chosen Tuesday as the women’s lacrosse program’s Kellie Thompson Shiley Award winner. The honor is presented annually within the team to a player who excels in the classroom and on the field, displays outstanding leadership at all times, sets a positive example for younger players and has a true passion […]
NCAA Women's Lacrosse Tourney: No. 1 UNC Handles James Madison in First Round
The top-ranked UNC women’s lacrosse team kicked off its run through the NCAA Tournament on the right note Sunday afternoon at Dorrance Field, pulling out a 14-9 first-round victory over James Madison. While the Tar Heels (19-0) have steamrolled through opponents for much of the season–including a 15-5 win over James Madison on Mar. 21–Sunday’s […]
Women's Lacrosse: Jamie Ortega, Taylor Moreno Named Tewaaraton Award Finalists
UNC seniors Jamie Ortega and Taylor Moreno were each chosen Thursday as part of five finalists for this year’s women’s Tewaaraton Award. The Heisman Trophy of college lacrosse, the Tewaaraton Award recognizes the nation’s top player. This is the first time UNC has ever had two players selected as finalists. Ortega was named the ACC […]
Women's Lacrosse: Taylor Moreno Earns Third National Defensive Player of the Week Award of 2021
UNC senior goalkeeper Taylor Moreno picked up her third IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week award of the season on Tuesday. Moreno recently was named a First Team All-ACC selection and the ACC Tournament MVP after helping the top-ranked Tar Heels secure their fifth consecutive conference title. In UNC’s three wins last week during […]
No. 1 UNC Women's Lacrosse Rolls Past Notre Dame in ACC Tourney Semifinals
The high-powered UNC women’s lacrosse team showed once again why it’s the overwhelming favorite to win a national championship this season, rolling to an 18-4 victory on Friday in Chapel Hill over No. 4 seed Notre Dame as part of the ACC Tournament semifinals. Stars Jamie Ortega and Katie Hoeg each tallied seven points in […]
Seven Tar Heels Earn All-ACC Women's Lacrosse Honors
A total of seven Tar Heels earned All-ACC honors in women’s lacrosse on Tuesday, highlighted by five players earning First Team All-ACC selections. Attackers Jamie Ortega and Katie Hoeg–two of the conference’s top five all-time scorers–were joined on the First Team by midfielder Ally Mastroianni, defender Emma Trenchard and goalie Taylor Moreno. This is the […]
›