Strong Second Half Lifts Women’s Lacrosse Over Florida, 19-10

Saturday, February 17

Chapel Hill, NC

11 a.m. ET

North Carolina

2-1

#12 Florida

0-2

Florida

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Strong Second Half Lifts Women’s Lacrosse Over Florida, 19-10

February 17, 2024 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After a big second half in which the University of North Carolina women's lacrosse team out-scored Florida 11-2, the sixth-ranked Tar Heels posted a big 19-10 win over the 12th-ranked Gators on Saturday at Dorrance Field.

Following the victory, the Tar Heels improve to 2-1 (0-0 ACC) on the young season and the Gators drop to 0-2 (0-0 AAC).

How It Happened

Florida got on the board first before Carolina scored three straight – with Reilly Casey assisting two of them – to jump out to a 3-1 lead just past the halfway point of the first quarter.
The visiting team ended the quarter with three unanswered goals for a narrow 4-3 lead.
UF extended its lead to 7-4, their largest of the game, at the 8:12-minute mark in the second quarter before goals from Kiley Mottice and Caroline Godine got UNC back within one.
The Tar Heels netted two goals in 37 seconds with Caitlyn Wurzburger's tally tying the game at eight apiece to end the first half.
UNC came out of the break aggressive, firing off a pair of goals two minutes in to regain a lead it would not relinquish.
The home team limited Florida to only one goal during the third frame and netted three of its own, which included a two-goal effort from Alyssa Long.
Entering the fourth quarter up 12-9, Carolina continued to build upon its momentum and added three more for a 15-9 advantage.
The Tar Heels, who again only gave up one goal, tacked on seven more in the final 15 minutes.
With an 11-2 run in the second half, Carolina finished with four unanswered for a 19-10 win, its first ranked victory of the year.

Inside the Box Score

Eleven Tar Heels notched at least one point, led by Ashley Humphrey with a game-high five behind two goals and three assists.
Long, Mottice and Wurzburger all recorded hat tricks.
The Tar Heels out-shot the Gators 37-21, including 21-7 in the final 30 minutes. UNC had a 30-17 edge in shots on goal (16-6 in the second half).
GraceAnn Leonard and Emily Nalls both had six draw controls. UNC finished with 18 to UF's 14.
Nalls also had a game-high three caused turnovers, contributing half of Carolina's six.
Alecia Nicholas made seven saves between the pipes with four in the second half.

Tar Heel Tidbits

It was the first hat trick for Mottice and the third for Long. Wurzburger now has 34 multi-goal games in her career.
With four points on the day, Wurzburger now ranks 11th all-time on UNC's career points list with 211.
Wurzburger also extended her streak of recording at least one point in every game since April 21, 2022 (a 30-game streak).
With her five points, Humphrey has now recorded at least one point in 39 of her 40 career appearances.
Humphrey's two goals brought her career total up to 75.
UNC has won 67 of its last 74 games, and 75 of its last 83 games.
The Tar Heels have scored double-figure goals 78 times in their last 83 games.

Up Next
The sixth-ranked Tar Heels begin Atlantic Coast Conference action on the road when they travel to Charlottesville, Virginia, to take on the Cavaliers on Friday, Feb. 23. First draw is set for 5 p.m. ET at Klöckner Stadium and the game will be broadcast on ACCNX.

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