Defense Powers Women’s Lacrosse To 14-6 Win Over East Carolina

Tuesday, March 12

Chapel Hill, NC

5 p.m. ET

North Carolina

6-2

East Carolina

3-4

ECU

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Defense Powers Women’s Lacrosse To 14-6 Win Over East Carolina

March 12, 2024 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A second-half shutout by ninth-ranked North Carolina women's lacrosse's stalwart defense resulted in a 14-6 win over East Carolina on Tuesday night at Dorrance Field. Following the victory, the Tar Heels improve to 6-2 (2-1 ACC) on the year while the Pirates drop to 3-4 (0-0 AAC).

Now eight games into the season, Carolina's defensive unit has limited its opponents to just 8.6 goals per game. The Tar Heels are on a seven-game streak of holding its competitor to 10 goals or fewer.

How It Happened

The visitors tied things up at 2-2 five minutes in before four answered goals allowed Carolina to break away. Ashley Humphrey assisted three of those goals, ending the first quarter with four.
The Tar Heels maintained a 6-2 lead at the end of the opening frame, holding an 8-1 edge on the draw and limiting the Pirates to only three shots.
East Carolina got itself within three but back-to-back goals from Alyssa Long sparked a 3-1 North Carolina run that carried into the break.
UNC went into halftime up 11-6 and held a 15 shot and nine draw control advantage.
The scoreline stood unchanged after the third frame as UNC was limited to six shots. The Pirates were also unable to create any chances as UNC held them to just two attempts.
Caroline Godine broke the scoreless drought two minutes after the start of the fourth frame. She then scored the final goal of the contest to make it a hat trick.
The Tar Heels, whose defense kept the Pirates scoreless the entire second half, sealed a 14-6 win in their penultimate nonconference game.

Inside the Box Score

North Carolina out-shot East Carolina 40-13, including 25-9 on target.
Highlighted by a career-high five from Livi Lawton, UNC had a season-high 24 ground balls to ECU's 11.
Carolina also saw a season-high 15 caused turnovers from 10 different players. Gabi Hall had three, the most in her career.
The Tar Heels held a 15-9 advantage on the draw. Olivia Dirks (5) and Bailey Horne (4) combined for nine.
Alecia Nicholas made three saves in cage, all during the final 30 for a second-half shutout.
Seven different Tar Heels scored with Godine securing a hat trick. Five others found the back of the net twice.
Caitlyn Wurzburger led all players with five points behind two goals and three assists.

Tar Heel Tidbits

With her five-point effort, Wurzburger moves up to sixth all-time in school history with 231 career points.
Wurzburger extends her scoring streak to 35 straight games. She has recorded at least one point in 65 of her 71 career games.
Humphrey has registered at least one point in all but one of her career appearances. She has also dished out at least one assist in 42 of her 45 games.
UNC has won 71 of its last 79 games, and 79 of its last 88 games.
The Tar Heels have scored double-figure goals 82 times in their last 88 games.

Up Next
The ninth-ranked Tar Heels resume Atlantic Coast Conference action on Saturday, March 16, with a visit to No. 7 Syracuse. First draw is set for noon ET at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York.

It will be Carolina's third top-10 matchup this season. The game will broadcast nationally on ACC Network.

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