Balanced Scoring Leads Women’s Lacrosse Past Liberty, 19-6

Tuesday, February 13

Chapel Hill, NC

5 p.m. ET

North Carolina

1-1

Liberty

0-2

LIBERTY

North Carolina

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

February 13, 2024 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Balanced scoring and dominance on the draw allowed sixth-ranked University of North Carolina women's lacrosse to cruise past Liberty, 19-6, in the home opener on Tuesday night at Dorrance Field.

The Tar Heels secured their first win of the year to move to 1-1 (0-0 ACC) on the young 2024 season. The Flames fall to 0-2 (0-0 ASUN).

Carolina's 24 draw controls matched its program record done twice prior against High Point (3/23/23) and Virginia (3/11/23). Also highlighting the game was Darcy Felter's career night, as the sophomore scored four goals and two assists in a six-point effort.

How It Happened

Alyssa Long got things started quickly by scoring 16 seconds after the opening whistle, sparking a 3-0 run until Liberty scored its lone goal of the quarter with 6:20 on the clock.
The Tar Heels added three more goals in the final five minutes to end the first quarter with a 6-1 advantage.
Carolina out-scored Liberty 4-2 in the second quarter, highlighted by a pair of goals from Kiley Mottice in a two minute stretch.
UNC, which went into the break with a 10-3 lead, also held a 12-3 edge in draw controls.
Caroline Godine tallied back-to-back goals while Reilly Casey dished out three assists in the third quarter which saw the Tar Heels find the back of the net five times.
The Tar Heels' defense held the Flames without a goal for over eight minutes, as the home team held a 15-6 lead after 45 minutes of play.
The fourth quarter was all Carolina – and all Felter. The sophomore netted the final three goals of the game to end the night with a six-point effort.
UNC's defensive unit kept Liberty scoreless for the entirety of the final quarter, while its midfield contingent gave up only one draw control in the second half.

Inside the Box Score

Ten different Tar Heels found the back of the net, led by Felter's game-high four goals.
Casey and Felter had six points apiece – the same amount as the entire Liberty roster.
UNC dominated the draw, 24-4. Bailey Horne and GraceAnn Leonard both had six.
Mottice led the team with three caused turnovers, but Liberty finished with a slight 10-8 advantage.
The Flames also had 21 ground balls to the Tar Heels' 14. Mottice again had a team-high three.
Between the pipes, Alecia Nicholas and Betty Nelson combined for eight saves.

Tar Heel Tidbits

Felter's four goals and six points were all new career-highs while her two assists matched her career-high. Prior to tonight, she had never had more than two goals and two assists in a single contest.
Mottice also had a career night with her three draw controls and three ground balls. Her two goals and three points matched her career high.
With three points on the night, Caitlyn Wurzburger extended her streak of recording at least one point in every game since April 21, 2022.
Ashley Humphrey, who had one goal and two assists, has recorded at least one point in 38 of her 39 career appearances.
UNC has won 66 of its last 73 games, and 74 of its last 82 games.
The Tar Heels have scored double-figure goals 77 times in their last 82 games.
Carolina moves to 4-0 all-time against Liberty, having out-scored them 79-18.

Up Next
The sixth-ranked Tar Heels are back at Dorrance Field on Saturday, Feb. 17, to host No. 12 Florida in a big top-15 showdown beginning at 11 a.m. ET. The game will air on ACCNX and tickets are available for purchase here.

Stay up to date with UNC women's lacrosse by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.