CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Two of the nation’s top scoring offenses met Sunday, as undefeated North Carolina hosted Jacksonville in a top-20 women’s lacrosse romp.
But those high-scoring antics felt very one-sided, at least for much of the contest.
The second-ranked Tar Heels led wire to wire in a 17-10 home win over the No. 19 Dolphins, a never-in-doubt result that moved coach Jenny Levy’s squad to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in ranked matchups to start 2022.
UNC, seeking its sixth consecutive ACC tournament title and fourth consecutive NCAA Final Four appearance, got the usual production from its potent, Jamie Ortega-led offensive attack.
More impressive, though, was UNC’s steadiness on the other end of the field against a proven Jacksonville offense that came to Chapel Hill one game removed from a 20-goal eruption.
“They have good temperaments, they’re very competitive, they’re tough and they communicate well,” Levy said of a unit that allowed just five goals in the first three quarters. “Fundamentally, they’re really strong.”
“I think they’re some of the best defenders out there,” Ortega added.
UNC led the country in scoring defense last season at 6.57 goals allowed per game — the second lowest mark in school history — while also setting a school record for opponent shooting percentage (28.9 percent).
Similar results have followed this season: in its first four wins, UNC has allowed just 7.75 goals on average (and no more than 11) to ranked James Madison and Florida teams and Furman and Pittsburgh.
The Tar Heels needed a similar showing against a Jacksonville team that Levy described as “really scary” on film. The Dolphins are an NCAA Tournament stalwart under coach Mindy McCord, and attacker Sarah Elms leads a productive, veteran-heavy offense that averaged 15.7 goals per game across its first three games.
“We knew Jacksonville would come out really hot,” midfielder Ally Mastroianni said.
So, winning one-on-one battles was a point of emphasis. Given the steady drizzle that engulfed the stadium all afternoon, so were “tennis feet,” the nickname UNC’s players have jokingly attached to Levy’s coaching adage of staying quick and bouncy on the balls of one’s feet, especially on defense.
It showed early. Kicking off a four-game homestand at Dorrance Field, the Tar Heels built a first-period lead of 5-1 and a halftime lead of 11-4 behind the efforts of midfielder Andie Aldave (five goals), attacker Sam Geiersbach (four goals) and attacker Scottie Rose Growney (three goals and two assists).
Defense fueled many of those fast-break scores. Graduate Taylor Moreno — the winningest goalie in UNC history and the 2022 USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Goalie of the Year — allowed seven goals but saved 11 in 53 minutes, too. That earned her a 61.1 save percentage in her 59th consecutive start.
A starting front line of Emma Trenchard, Emily Nalls, Gabi Hall and Brooklyn Walker-Welch also helped turn a multi-talented Jacksonville attack one-dimensional. Fourteen Dolphins scored, and six had multi-goal efforts, in last week’s home win over Niagara. Only five players scored Sunday; Elms led with five.
“They’re really growing into their own, and they’re doing great,” Ortega said. “I even can hear them communicating from the sideline or on the 30 [yard line]. I think that’s really, really impressive.”
As for UNC’s midfield, six players, including Aldave, Mastroianni, Elizabeth Hillman and Livi Lawton, mixed in at the position and had a hand in the team’s 14 turnovers forced while handling business on draw controls, which UNC led 19-12. Such defensive contributions from the midfield are a welcome addition.
“I’m really encouraged by that,” Levy said.
The overall defensive mettle, combined with UNC’s offensive output, put the team ahead 15-5 after three periods. As such, Levy rested some stars, including Ortega, who passed former teammate Katie Hoeg to become UNC’s all-time points leader earlier this week, and Moreno in the final period.
Jacksonville rattled off five of its 10 goals in those last 15 minutes against primarily UNC reserves, giving a comfortable win a slight trap game appearance. That wasn’t an issue for Levy, who took more solace in the fact her starters, faced with a wet field after a grueling week on the road, avoided such a slip-up.
“That Jacksonville team was a great challenge for us,” Levy said.
Focus now turns to No. 5 Northwestern, which visits No. 2 UNC next weekend. Averaging 19 goals per game over their last three, the Wildcats will bring another high-scoring offense into Chapel Hill.
But if the Tar Heels’ season-long defensive prowess, which they showcased against Jacksonville, holds true in that major test? They’ll be in a good spot as yet another national championship push continues.