The 2024 Division I women's college lacrosse season kicks off February 9. As is our annual tradition, we’re featuring every team ranked in the USA Lacrosse Preseason Top 20 in the lead up to opening day.
NO. 3 NORTH CAROLINA
2023 Record: 16-5 (7-2, ACC)
Final Ranking (2023): No. 5
Head Coach: Jenny Levy
Assistants: Phil Barnes, Marie McCool, Aurora Cordingley
North Carolina is not so young anymore.
Its attack, primarily composed of underclassmen, learned plenty through the ups and downs of the ACC schedule before powering the Tar Heels to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2023. Now, UNC’s offense is kicking off the season with far fewer question marks and much more experience than last year.
“[Our attackers] are all a year better,” coach Jenny Levy said. “They understand what we want. They’re able to do more within their game, but also help the younger guys coming in.”
The coaches asked a lot of the young players last season, Levy said. Their hard work amid a rebuild didn’t go unnoticed, as the Tar Heels finished fifth despite losing much of their offensive production from 2022.
Now a year older and wiser, UNC’s attackers will prove even more of a factor. Levy has seen growth from last season show up on her more-seasoned offense this offseason. She pointed to sophomore attackers like Marissa White, Caroline Godine and Kiley Mottice as standouts with more experience under their belt.
While plenty is different on attack, Levy said there’s one big similarity to last preseason: uncertainty with how everything will shake out. Levy won’t know exactly who the Tar Heels are until the season begins.
TOP RETURNERS
Reilly Casey, A, R-Jr. (38G, 38A)
Emily Nalls, D, Gr. (33GB, 30CT, 48DC)
Alecia Nicholas, GK, Jr. (151SV, .466SV%)
Expect North Carolina to field yet another strong defense in 2024. Nicholas broke out as a first-year starter last season and will return alongside top defenders like Nalls and Brooklyn Walker-Welch. Levy said she feels confident about the unit, noting the strong goalkeeping crew of Nicholas and freshman Betty Nelson (though Nicholas will remain the starter).
KEY ADDITIONS
Ashley Humphrey, A, Gr. (33G, 42A at Stanford in 2023)
Chloe Humphrey, A, Fr. (209G, 80A in high school career)
Betty Nelson, GK, Fr. (542 SVs in high school career)
UNC will welcome the Humphrey show to campus this spring, as Stanford transfer Ashley will join her highly regarded freshman sister Chloe in Chapel Hill. Levy said it sometimes takes freshmen time to adjust to the college level of play, but not Chloe Humphrey. The first-year star is creative and sees the game at a high level. Her older sister, the NCAA single-season assist record holder (88), spent her fall wrapping up at Stanford and joined the Tar Heels in January. Levy noted Ashley’s strong playmaking and ball distribution, saying she’s excited to roll Ashley out this spring.
NOTABLE DEPARTURES
Graduations: Brooklyn Neuman, M; Elizabeth Hillman, M; Lauren Figura, A
Transfers: Nicole Humphrey, A (USC); Melissa Sconone, A (Hofstra)