University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Duke
Tar Heels Dominate Duke To Reach Title Game
May 23, 2015 | Women's Lacrosse
CHESTER, PA. – North Carolina got goals from 10 players and dominated the second half to beat third-seeded Duke, 16-7, in an NCAA Tournament semifinal contest on Friday night at PPL Park. The second-seeded Tar Heels advance to the NCAA Tournament championship game to face top-seeded Maryland, which beat Syracuse, 10-8, in Friday's second semifinal.
Tar Heel junior Aly Messinger led all scorers with five points on three goals and two assists, as five different Tar Heels scored at least two goals. Maggie Bill, Sydney Holman, Marie McCool and Lindsay Scott each scored twice, Sam McGee had a goal and an assist and Sammy Jo Tracy, Stephanie Lobb, Courtney Waite and Brittney Coppa all scored once. Katie Trees led Duke with two goals and an assist. Brigid Smith and Taylor Trimble both scored once.
Carolina out-shot Duke, 34-19, in the game, including 17-9 in the second half. After the Blue Devils scored the first goal of the second half, the Tar Heels closed the contest on a 9-2 run. UNC held Duke to just one goal for a span of over 28 minutes encompassing the end of the first half and the first 20 minutes of the second.
“Obviously, we are happy with the win today,” Tar Heel head coach Jenny Levy said afterward. “I thought it was a total team effort. Congratulations to Duke on their tremendous season while my great friend Kerstin Kimel has been courageously battling breast cancer. I just want to congratulate them because I think on and off the field they've done a lot of great things, and I know it can't be easy for her.
“We were anchored by an unbelievable defense that held a really good Duke team to just seven goals tonight. I thought both of our goalies played great, and all of our defenders and middies who play defense made plays. On the offensive end, a unit showed a complete team game and showed how much fun it can be.”
The Tar Heels move on to the national title game for the third time in program history. In 2009, Northwestern beat Carolina for the championship in Towson, Md. Two years ago in Villanova, Pa., UNC beat Maryland, 13-12, in triple overtime for its first national championship.
Carolina's defense limited Duke to seven goals after having held the Blue Devils to a season-low six goals in the teams' regular season meeting on April 17 in Durham, N.C. The Blue Devils averaged nearly 13 goals per contest coming into Friday's NCAA semifinal.
Carolina struck first in the first half with a goal by Messinger 50 seconds into the action. The teams traded goals until they were tied at 4-all with 8:20 left before the break. Carolina ended the half on a 3-0 run, getting unassisted goals from McCool, Messinger and Coppa to close the period. UNC led, 7-4, at the half.
Coppa scored her first goal since April 4 at Louisville, scoring in her second game back after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee on April 11. For Waite, a senior defender, it was her first career goal, coming with 8:20 left in the half. The Tar Heels won the subsequent draw and McCool scored on a fast break just nine seconds later.
Duke scored first coming out of the second half to make the score 7-5 Tar Heels, but Carolina responded with a 6-0 run over a span of nearly 13 minutes to seize control of the game at 13-5. The Blue Devils scored again to make it 13-6, only to see UNC score three of the game's final four goals.
Caylee Waters started in goal for Carolina and played the first half to pick up the victory while making four saves. Megan Ward played well in the second half, making three saves.
Carolina and Maryland will meet at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday night for the national championship at PPL Park. ESPNU will televise the game nationally.
