University of North Carolina Athletics
Thursday, May 18
Chapel Hill, N.C.
5 p.m. ET
North Carolina
16-5, 7-2
4
vs
5
#5 Denver
22-0, 6-0
1
2
3
4
F
Denver
1
1
1
2
5
North Carolina
2
2
0
0
4
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
No. 4 Women’s Lacrosse Falls To No. 5 Denver In NCAA Quarterfinals
May 18, 2023 | Women's Lacrosse
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 4-seed University of North Carolina women's lacrosse team concluded its season Thursday evening, dropping a narrow 5-4 decision to No. 5-seed Denver in the NCAA quarterfinals at Dorrance Field.
The Tar Heels end the 2023 campaign with a 16-5 overall record, including a 7-2 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
How It Happened
The Tar Heels end the 2023 campaign with a 16-5 overall record, including a 7-2 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
How It Happened
- Alyssa Long and Reilly Casey broke through to give UNC a narrow 2-1 lead after the first 15 minutes.
- UNC continued to push the pace, out-shooting DU 12-5 in the first half, with Marissa White and Casey finding the back of the cage.
- Limiting the Pioneers to just one goal per quarter, the Tar Heels held onto a 4-2 lead at the break.
- The defensive battle continued into the second half, with UNC unable to convert.
- Carolina's back line also proved to be stifling, allowing only one goal in the third to maintain a 4-3 edge heading into the final frame.
- Alecia Nicholas made two big stops on Denver free position attempts at the start of the fourth quarter.
- Denver scored two straight, taking a 5-4 lead with 6:31 left on the clock which would stand as the final score.
- With four each from Olivia Dirks and Emily Nalls, UNC had an 8-5 edge in ground balls.
- Livi Lawton and Brooklyn Walker-Welch both had two caused turnovers.
- Casey had a team-high two goals, the 11th multi-goal game of her career.
- Nicholas finished with seven saves between the pipes.
Team Stats
DEN
NC
Shots
14
15
Turnovers
13
19
Caused Turnovers
15
9
Draw Controls
5
8
Free-Position Shots
4
1
Ground Balls
16
5
Game Leaders
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
1
G
0
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Lacrosse
Midfielder
/ Women's Lacrosse
Defender
/ Women's LacrosseMidfielder
/ Women's Lacrosse
Defender
/ Women's LacrosseGoalkeeper
/ Women's Lacrosse
Defender
/ Women's LacrosseAttacker
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