The undefeated UNC women’s lacrosse team kept the good times rolling in its 2022 postseason debut Friday afternoon, defeating Pittsburgh 15-6 in the first round of the ACC Tournament, played on the campus of Notre Dame.

Fifth-year Scottie Rose Growney scored a team-high five goals for Carolina for the second straight game, after netting a quintet of scores in the regular-season finale against Duke. Two of Growney’s goals came in a lopsided first quarter, one which saw the Tar Heels leading 5-1 after 15 minutes. Jamie Ortega, who collected a hat trick of her own in the victory, also scored in the quarter. Ortega’s three goals and one assist gave her four points on the day, moving her to within six of setting the all-time ACC career record.

Carolina continued to pepper the Pittsburgh net with shots as the game wore on, using a 5-0 run in the third quarter to truly put the game on ice. Three goals from Growney contributed to the run, which expanded the UNC advantage from 9-4 to 14-4. Sam Geiersbach added UNC’s final goal of the game with 1:18 to go, giving her four goals on the day. Despite not starting a game, the graduate attacker is now up to 24 goals this season.

Carolina outshot the Panthers 42-20, while committing only five fouls to Pittsburgh’s 24. The Tar Heels made life easy for goalie Taylor Moreno, who only had to make eight saves. It was her 70th consecutive start in net for UNC.

Now 16-0 on the season, the Tar Heels will advance to the ACC semifinals on Sunday afternoon, where they will meet either Duke or hosts Notre Dame at 1 p.m. on ACC Network. The final will be played on May 7 at the campus site of the highest remaining seed. Carolina is pursuing its sixth consecutive ACC Tournament title.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications


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