Syracuse found out the hard way Sunday afternoon, that there’s not too much anyone can do to stop UNC senior attacker Molly Hendrick.
Hendrick’s seven goals–and career-high nine points–led the way for the top-seeded Tar Heel women’s lacrosse team, as it defeated the No. 2 seed Orange 18-11 at Richmond’s Sports Backers Stadium.
The win clinched a second straight ACC Tournament Championship for head coach Jenny Levy’s squad–which will now look to defend last year’s national title.
Syracuse (15-6) opened the game on a 4-0 run, but from that point on Hendrick and the Tar Heels would not be denied.
Named MVP of the tournament for her efforts, Hendrick scored her seven goals on just nine shots–giving her a staggering 66 goals on the season.
UNC (16-2) scored the game’s final nine goals, while holding the Orange scoreless for the final 18 minutes and 38 seconds.
Sydney Holman supplemented Hendrick’s efforts with three goals and three assists, while Carly Reed scored all four of her goals during the second half.
The Tar Heels not only clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for their efforts, but also gained a bit of revenge against a squad that defeated them earlier this season.
“At halftime we talked with our offensive unit,” Levy said, of UNC’s slow start. “They felt like they were open. We just had to make some adjustments in the second half in order to connect on some of the cutters in the interior and also be a threat from the exterior.
“We obviously didn’t get off to a great start in the game, but I thought we adjusted really well.”
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