No. 3 North Carolina Beats No. 10 Orange for ACC Title

Sunday, April 30

Richmond, Va.

1 pm

Syracuse University

15-6

North Carolina

16-2

Syracuse

North Carolina

Photo by: Atlantic Coast Conference

No. 3 North Carolina Beats No. 10 Orange for ACC Title

4/30/2017 4:37:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

RICHMOND, N.Y. – No. 3 North Carolina scored nine straight goals to end the game to overcome a two-goal deficit and defeat No. 10 Syracuse, 18-11,in the championship game of the ACC Tournament in Richmond, Va.

"We got off to a good start, we were putting the ball into the back of the net," said Syracuse head coach Gary Gait. "It was a battle for a while. It was a game of runs and we didn't have an answer for the last one."

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
The Orange (15-6) jumped out to an early lead, scoring the first four goals of the game. Senior Riley Donahue scored an unassisted goal before junior Neena Merola converted on a free-position attempt. Redshirt freshman Mary Rahal found the back of the net off a pass from senior Devon Parker, and Donahue capped the run with a free-positon goal.

North Carolina took advantage of a Syracuse turnover on a clear when Molly Hendrick scored at the 16:13 mark, sparking the Tar Heels on a 4-0 scoring run to tie the game. Junior Alie Jimerson and freshman Emily Hawryschuk netted back-to back goals to put the Orange up 6-4, but the Tar Heels ended the half with three straight goals to take a 7-6 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Tar Heels (16-2) scored the first two goals of the second half to extend their lead to 9-6. Hawryschuk went to goal on a restart and put her shot past Caylee Waters, sparking Syracuse on a 5-0 scoring run that gave the Orange an 11-9 lead. Parker tallied back-to-back goals before Rahal scored on a free position. Sophomore Natalie Wallon capped the run when she scored off an assist from Jimerson with 18:38 remaining.

Wallon's goal would be the last for the Orange as North Carolina recorded the final nine goals of the contest to claim its second straight ACC title.

OF NOTE
Parker led the Orange with four points (2g, 2a), while Donahue finished with two goals and an assist. Donahue, Wallon and senior Kaeli O'Connor were named to the ACC All-Tournament Team.

UP NEXT
Syracuse will learn its fate in the NCAA Tournament when the bracket is announced on Sunday, May 7 at 9 p.m.