A 43-game Division I women’s slate was loaded with quality matchups, highlighted by two conference bouts between heavyweights.
TAR HEELS HOLD OFF ORANGE
When top-ranked North Carolina needed a difference-maker in a pivotal ACC matchup against No. 4 Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, Jamie Ortega was there — just like she’s been for the entirety of her career in Chapel Hill.
Ortega posted her 31st career game with five goals and notched the final tally with 1:36 remaining as North Carolina held off Syracuse 14-12 in front of 2,907 fans. Ortega is second in ACC history and third in NCAA history with 424 points.
Scottie Rose Growney and Andie Aldave each scored two goals for North Carolina (13-0, 6-0 ACC), which won its 39th consecutive regular season game. It was Jenny Levy’s 100th ACC victory.
Ortega tied the score at 7 just seconds before halftime, then Syracuse freshman Olivia Adamson scored the first goal of the third quarter for an 8-7 lead. UNC then put together what proved to be the game’s most crucial run. Emily Nalls and Growney scored less than a minute apart for a 9-8 lead, then Ortega scored twice to push the lead to 11-8.
Sam Swart and Natalie Smith each cut UNC’s lead to one goal at different points in the final half, but UNC answered each time. Smith made it 13-12 with 3:09 to play, but Ortega’s final goal was the dagger about 90 seconds later.
DENVER TOPS UCONN IN OVERTIME
Just like the first meeting between Big East foes Denver and UConn last season, fans were in for a thriller on Saturday.
No. 19 UConn got off to a blistering start in the first five-plus minutes of action, but Denver’s defense didn’t let it get out of hand. The Pioneers’ one-goal lead with 9:40 remaining was erased on Madelyn George’s goal, and after a few minutes of overtime, Julia Gilbert sent home the winner for No. 10 Denver.
Gilbert and Ellie Curry each had three goals and one assist for the Pios in their 14-13 win. Reagan Wilson had three goals, and Bea Behrins had two goals and two assists. Landyn White made 13 saves, Sydney Watson had two goals and four assists and Kate Shaffer had three goals and three assists for UConn (10-2, 1-1 Big East).
Victoria Macres was one of the heros for Denver (12-1, 2-0 Big East). The junior goalkeeper came off the bench to play the final 25:17, and she made five saves while only giving up three goals.
Denver scored six of the final nine goals with Macres between the pipes.