The No. 1 UNC women’s lacrosse team took on another top-5 opponent on the road Saturday afternoon, and once again prevailed in thrilling fashion. The Tar Heels and No. 4 Syracuse went back and forth all game in the Carrier Dome, but it was a late goal from star attacker Jamie Ortega which sealed the Carolina victory, ensuring the nation’s top team would stay unbeaten just a little longer.

The Jamie Ortega Show played all afternoon for Carolina, as her final goal in the fourth quarter marked her fifth of the game to lead all scorers. It was Ortega’s 31st career game with at least five goals, and moved her closer to the all-time ACC record of 445 career points. Ortega currently sits at 424.

A nip-and-tuck first half ended with the Tar Heels and Orange tied at 7-7 off a goal from Ortega with just 24 seconds to go in the second quarter. Neither team led by more than a goal during the first half.

Syracuse opened the third quarter with a goal less than a minute in, but Carolina responded with a game-changing 4-0 run in a little more than four minutes, with Ortega scoring the final two to give UNC its biggest lead of the game at 11-8. Scottie Rose Growney found the net for the second time in the game during the run, as did junior defender Emily Nalls, whose goal was her first all season.

The Orange responded with two straight scores to slice the lead down to 11-10, but Caitlyn Wurzbuger gave the Tar Heels a lift entering the fourth, scoring with just one second remaining on the third quarter clock off a free position play, ensuring Carolina would enter the final 15 minutes with a two-goal lead.

The final quarter was the lowest-scoring period of the game. Andie Aldave restored UNC’s three-goal lead just 56 seconds in, but Carolina’s offense fell silent for the majority of the quarter as the Orange got back to within a goal with three minutes to go. With the pressure on, the ball found Ortega again, who bled the shot clock down to single digits before delivering the dagger with 1:36 to go. The Orange wouldn’t score again.

The 14-12 victory is UNC’s 39th straight regular season win, 17th straight road win and 40th overall in its last 41 games. The No. 1 Tar Heels are now 13-0 on the season, having defeated an eighth ranked opponent. Yet another one awaits on Thursday, as Carolina will travel to No. 16 Virginia for a midweek showdown at 8 p.m. on ACC Network.

 

Featured image via Syracuse Athletic Communications

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