Ortega's 10 Points Lead Tar Heels Past Northwestern, 21-11, To Open Stadium

Saturday, March 2

Chapel Hill

12:30 PM

North Carolina

4-1

Northwestern

3-2

Northwestern

North Carolina

Jamie Ortega's 10 points tied a UNC record set by Kellie Thompson in 2002.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Ortega's 10 Points Lead Tar Heels Past Northwestern, 21-11, To Open Stadium

March 2, 2019 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Photos Final Stats (.pdf)

CHAPEL HILL – Jamie Ortega tied a North Carolina women's lacrosse record with 10 points as the third-ranked Tar Heels beat fifth-ranked Northwestern, 21-11, on Saturday afternoon in their first game at the new UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium.

Ortega tied her personal career highs with seven goals (set last year vs. Duke in the ACC Tournament) and three assists (set vs. Louisville in 2018) to match the school record of 10 points set by Kellie Thompson vs. UMBC in 2002.

Carolina also got a career-high five goals and six points from sophomore Taylor McDaniels and three goals and two assists from junior Olivia Ferrucci.  Katie Hoeg added three goals and one assist despite being face-guarded for much of the first half.  Gianna Bowe had two assists and Kara Klages had a goal and an assist.

"We're obviously very excited to be able to open up our stadium with a decisive win, 21-11, over a really good program and really good team," UNC head coach Jenny Levy said afterward.  "We thought soccer was going to open the stadium last fall in honor of Anson Dorrance and everything he's accomplished. I'm really happy we did what we were supposed to do today.

"Overall, it was a really big team effort," Levy continued. "I thought our offense did a really good job of communicating and playing the game that was in front of them instead of waiting for something pre-established we felt was supposed to happen. That's something we've been working on.  I thought our defense also did great.  Northwestern had been averaging 19 goals a game, and we held them to three in the first half.  They beat us in the second half, so there are things to get better at."

The Tar Heels (4-1) went on a 6-0 run midway through the first half and eventually led, 14-3, at halftime.  The Wildcats (4-2) cut the lead to nine on two occasions after the break but could get no closer.

Lauren Gilbert led NU with three goals.  UNC sophomore defender Emma Trenchard helped limit Wildcat All-America Selena Lasota to one goal and one assist.

UNC Head Coach Jenny Levy on the New Stadium:
"Fetzer Field hadn't been renovated since 1935.  The four teams that play here, men's and women's soccer and men's and women's lacrosse, between them have won 31 national championships.  It's been a long time coming, quite honestly.  I feel like it's absolutely been earned.  The field sports here in soccer, lacrosse and field hockey have been really consistent in success.

"This is a spectacular stadium, I really feel like there's nothing like it in the country.  These programs  definitely deserve something spectacular, because that's what we've brought to the field since I can remember."

Notables
•               The game was the first women's lacrosse game in UNC's new Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium. The Carolina men lost to Denver earlier on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader.
•               Carolina has won eight of the last nine meetings in the series, including six in a row.
•               UNC is 4-1 overall this season and 2-1 against opponents ranked in the top five of the IWLCA poll. Carolina opened its season with an 18-7 win over No. 4 James Madison and fell, 13-12 in overtime, on Feb. 24 at No. 2 Maryland.
•               Carolina and Northwestern were meeting in the regular season for the 15^thconsecutive year, renewing a rivalry that dates to 2005.

UP NEXT
The Tar Heels will be back at UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium next Saturday for their Atlantic Coast Conference opener against Virginia at noon.

Social Media
For all the latest on Carolina Women's Lacrosse, be sure to follow the team at @uncwlax on Twitter or Instagram.