Ortega's season-high six goals led Carolina to a comeback win over Notre Dame.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Ortega's Big Day, Olympic Sports Notes
April 2, 2018 | Women's Lacrosse, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
It was, as Jenny Levy later described, the worst first half the North Carolina women's lacrosse team could have played.
But in climbing back from a 6-2 halftime deficit to defeat No. 22 Notre Dame 13-12 on Saturday at Kenan Stadium, the fifth-ranked Tar Heels received a stellar effort from Jamie Ortega, who played one of the best games by a true freshman in program history.
Ortega scored a career-high six goals. That bested her previous career high of five, which she scored against Liberty on Feb. 18, and marked the most goals by a UNC true freshman in at least the last 20 seasons.
The Tar Heels faced an early 1-0 deficit after Nikki Ortega, Jamie's older sister, scored less than three minutes into the game. But Ortega answered about 7 1/2 minutes later.
That, however, proved to be the only goal UNC scored within the first 25 1/2 minutes. The team added just one more before halftime – Maggie Bill found Ela Hazar at the 4:22 mark – and its two first-half goals were its fewest in any half this season.
But Ortega quickly flipped the momentum.
Just 49 seconds into the second half, Ortega cut Notre Dame's lead to 6-3 on her second goal. That was the start of a pivotal 6-1 run by the Tar Heels, who seized an 8-7 lead, their first of the game, when Katie Hoeg scored with 20:32 left. Ortega added two more goals during that run and ultimately finished with five in the second half.
Behind her career day, Ortega, the top freshman attacker in the nation according to Inside Lacrosse, upped her season goal total to 29. Only Marie McCool has more (36) among UNC players.
Riley's resurgenceÂ
As the baseball's team's primary leadoff hitter for the first 17 games of the season, Brandon Riley batted .148. But a move to the middle of the Tar Heels' batting order, from which he tallied a team-high 52 RBIs last season, has sparked a recent surge.
In UNC's 14-2 win over Charlotte on Tuesday and a three-game weekend sweep of Wake Forest, Riley went 6-for-19 with a home run, eight RBIs and four runs scored. Since moving down in the order, he's batting .326 (15-for-46) across 11 games. He's totaled 13 RBIs in that span.
Against the Demon Deacons, Riley proved clutch twice. He helped the Tar Heels to a 3-2 win Friday with his walk-off single in the 15th inning. Then with the score tied at 6 in the eighth inning of Sunday's game, he hit a two-run home run to secure an 8-6 victory.
Bassil plays solid under pressure
After entering the season as the men's lacrosse team's fourth-string goalkeeper, Alex Bassil made his second straight start Friday at Duke. And although UNC fell 11-10, he stood strong in the net.
Duke entered Friday ranked third nationally in scoring offense (13.9 goals per game) through Wednesday's games. But Bassil, a Durham native who attended Durham Academy, showed no signs of being overwhelmed by the moment, saving nine of the Blue Devils' 20 shots on goal.
Of the Blue Devils' 11 goals, many came in transition or unsettled loose ball situations.
Delamora continues hot hitting
Through her first 20 games of the season, Berlynne Delamora was hitting .071 (2-for-28). But behind a strong showing at the plate over her last five games, she's raised her batting average 124 points.
In the softball team's 2-1 series win at Virginia over the weekend, Delamora went 4-for-9 with four RBIs and two runs scored. She notched two doubles, marking her first two extra-base hits of the season.
Of Delamora's four hits – which helped her extend her hitting streak to five games – her biggest came in the eighth inning of Saturday's 11-7 win over the Cavaliers. With the score tied at 7, she plated the winning run with a single.
Blumberg rallies for another win
With about 16 family members in the stands at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center, many seeing him play in person for the first time, William Blumberg continued his winning ways Sunday with a hard-fought victory over Virginia's Carl Soderlund.
Ranked No. 2 nationally in singles, Blumberg won his first set 6-1. But Soderlund, ranked No. 38, took the second, 6-4. Battling some fatigue, Blumberg found inspiration from his family, who cheered him to a 6-2 victory in the third set.
Blumberg's win on Court 1 helped the fifth-ranked men's tennis team to a 6-1 win over No. 37 Virginia. Since starting the dual match season 2-2, he's won nine of his last 10 singles matches, all against ranked opponents.
Alcorta excels in 10,000-meter debutÂ
Before Friday, Caroline Alcorta had never raced in the 10,000 meters. But that didn't prevent her from registering the second-fastest time in UNC history at the distance.
On the first day of the Raleigh Relays, Alcorta finished second in the 10,000 meters, behind defending indoor 5,000-meter ACC champion Dorcas Wasike of Louisville, with a time of 33:54.23. Joan Nesbit is the only Tar Heel who has recorded a better time in the event, finishing in 32:54.19 in 1984.Â
Alcorta now ranks top-five all-time in the indoor 3,000 meters and the outdoor 10,000 meters at UNC.
Â
It was, as Jenny Levy later described, the worst first half the North Carolina women's lacrosse team could have played.
But in climbing back from a 6-2 halftime deficit to defeat No. 22 Notre Dame 13-12 on Saturday at Kenan Stadium, the fifth-ranked Tar Heels received a stellar effort from Jamie Ortega, who played one of the best games by a true freshman in program history.
Ortega scored a career-high six goals. That bested her previous career high of five, which she scored against Liberty on Feb. 18, and marked the most goals by a UNC true freshman in at least the last 20 seasons.
The Tar Heels faced an early 1-0 deficit after Nikki Ortega, Jamie's older sister, scored less than three minutes into the game. But Ortega answered about 7 1/2 minutes later.
That, however, proved to be the only goal UNC scored within the first 25 1/2 minutes. The team added just one more before halftime – Maggie Bill found Ela Hazar at the 4:22 mark – and its two first-half goals were its fewest in any half this season.
But Ortega quickly flipped the momentum.
Just 49 seconds into the second half, Ortega cut Notre Dame's lead to 6-3 on her second goal. That was the start of a pivotal 6-1 run by the Tar Heels, who seized an 8-7 lead, their first of the game, when Katie Hoeg scored with 20:32 left. Ortega added two more goals during that run and ultimately finished with five in the second half.
Behind her career day, Ortega, the top freshman attacker in the nation according to Inside Lacrosse, upped her season goal total to 29. Only Marie McCool has more (36) among UNC players.
Riley's resurgenceÂ
As the baseball's team's primary leadoff hitter for the first 17 games of the season, Brandon Riley batted .148. But a move to the middle of the Tar Heels' batting order, from which he tallied a team-high 52 RBIs last season, has sparked a recent surge.
In UNC's 14-2 win over Charlotte on Tuesday and a three-game weekend sweep of Wake Forest, Riley went 6-for-19 with a home run, eight RBIs and four runs scored. Since moving down in the order, he's batting .326 (15-for-46) across 11 games. He's totaled 13 RBIs in that span.
Against the Demon Deacons, Riley proved clutch twice. He helped the Tar Heels to a 3-2 win Friday with his walk-off single in the 15th inning. Then with the score tied at 6 in the eighth inning of Sunday's game, he hit a two-run home run to secure an 8-6 victory.
Bassil plays solid under pressure
After entering the season as the men's lacrosse team's fourth-string goalkeeper, Alex Bassil made his second straight start Friday at Duke. And although UNC fell 11-10, he stood strong in the net.
Duke entered Friday ranked third nationally in scoring offense (13.9 goals per game) through Wednesday's games. But Bassil, a Durham native who attended Durham Academy, showed no signs of being overwhelmed by the moment, saving nine of the Blue Devils' 20 shots on goal.
Of the Blue Devils' 11 goals, many came in transition or unsettled loose ball situations.
Delamora continues hot hitting
Through her first 20 games of the season, Berlynne Delamora was hitting .071 (2-for-28). But behind a strong showing at the plate over her last five games, she's raised her batting average 124 points.
In the softball team's 2-1 series win at Virginia over the weekend, Delamora went 4-for-9 with four RBIs and two runs scored. She notched two doubles, marking her first two extra-base hits of the season.
Of Delamora's four hits – which helped her extend her hitting streak to five games – her biggest came in the eighth inning of Saturday's 11-7 win over the Cavaliers. With the score tied at 7, she plated the winning run with a single.
Blumberg rallies for another win
With about 16 family members in the stands at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center, many seeing him play in person for the first time, William Blumberg continued his winning ways Sunday with a hard-fought victory over Virginia's Carl Soderlund.
Ranked No. 2 nationally in singles, Blumberg won his first set 6-1. But Soderlund, ranked No. 38, took the second, 6-4. Battling some fatigue, Blumberg found inspiration from his family, who cheered him to a 6-2 victory in the third set.
Blumberg's win on Court 1 helped the fifth-ranked men's tennis team to a 6-1 win over No. 37 Virginia. Since starting the dual match season 2-2, he's won nine of his last 10 singles matches, all against ranked opponents.
Alcorta excels in 10,000-meter debutÂ
Before Friday, Caroline Alcorta had never raced in the 10,000 meters. But that didn't prevent her from registering the second-fastest time in UNC history at the distance.
On the first day of the Raleigh Relays, Alcorta finished second in the 10,000 meters, behind defending indoor 5,000-meter ACC champion Dorcas Wasike of Louisville, with a time of 33:54.23. Joan Nesbit is the only Tar Heel who has recorded a better time in the event, finishing in 32:54.19 in 1984.Â
Alcorta now ranks top-five all-time in the indoor 3,000 meters and the outdoor 10,000 meters at UNC.
Â
Players Mentioned
Attacker/Midfielder
/ Women's Lacrosse
Attacker
/ Women's Lacrosse
Midfielder
/ Women's Lacrosse
Attacker
/ Women's Lacrosse9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Feature - September 11, 2025
Thursday, September 11
Henri Veesaar Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
MBB: Henri Veesaar Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
Kyan Evans Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10