Career Days For Harrison, Mottice Secure 18-12 Win Over Louisville

Saturday, March 23

Chapel Hill, NC

11 a.m. ET

North Carolina

Louisville

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

Career Days For Harrison, Mottice Secure 18-12 Win Over Louisville

March 23, 2024 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After 13 saves from Stella Harrison and four players recording four or more points, the 12th-ranked North Carolina women's lacrosse team returned to the win column with an 18-12 victory over Louisville on Saturday at Dorrance Field.

Following the win, the Tar Heels improve to 7-3 (3-2 ACC) on the year while the Cardinals drop to 5-6 (2-3 ACC).

How It Happened

It was a back-and-forth opening quarter after Louisville struck first. UNC went up by a pair on two occasions before UofL fought back to get itself within one both times.
The visitors tied things up at five apiece with three minutes to go before Olivia Dirks gave the home team a 6-5 lead after the first 15 minutes of play.
Louisville scored first to begin the second quarter before Reilly Casey's goal at the 11:56 mark sparked a 5-0 run for Carolina, all within a five-minute stretch.
Dirks netted three more to make it a four goal first-half performance, helping the Tar Heels maintain a 13-8 leading at the break.
Two goals from Kiley Mottice at the start of the second half pulled UNC ahead by seven. Mottice found the back of the cage again, contributing three of Carolina's four third-quarter goals.
Six crucial saves from Harrison, who subbed in at the start of the second frame, put the Tar Heels up 17-10 after 45 minutes.
Offense slowed down in the final quarter as Ashley Humphrey netted Carolina's lone goal with a feed from Wurzburger.
UNC's defense limited UofL to just four goals in the second half. Five more stops from Harrison in the fourth sealed an 18-12 win for the Tar Heels.

Inside the Box Score

Harrison made 13 saves during a career-high 45 minutes. Eleven of those stops came during the second half.
Dirks (4g, 1a) and Mottice (5g) led all players with five points each. Alyssa Long (3g, 1a) and Humphrey (1g, 3a) both had four points.
Carolina finished with a 20-13 advantage on the draw. Bailey Horne matched her season-high seven draw controls, which was also a game high.
The Tar Heels had seven caused turnovers to the Cardinals' six. Emily Nalls and Sam Forrest had two apiece.
Gabi Hall finished with a team-high three ground balls,
Both teams registered 31 shots with UofL having a narrow 25-24 lead with shots on goal.

Tar Heel Tidbits

Harrison's 13 saves were the most by a Tar Heel goalie since Alecia Nicholas made 14 vs. James Madison on Feb. 11, 2023
Mottice had a career-high five points and five goals, erasing her previous highs of four from earlier this month vs. both Florida and Clemson
Dirks' first goal of the day marked her 100th career point. Her four goals in the game was a new season high
Wurzburger has recorded at least one point in 67 of her 73 career appearances. She has earned at least one point in every game since April 21, 2022 (37 straight games)
Humphrey has recorded at least one point in 45 of her 47 career appearances
UNC has won 72 of its last 81 games, and 80 of its last 90 games
The Tar Heels have scored double-figure goals 83 times in their last 90 games

Up Next
The 12th-ranked Tar Heels have a quick turnaround as they are back in action on Monday, March 25, to host defending national champion and top-ranked Northwestern. First draw is set for 4:30 p.m. ET at Dorrance Field.

The game will broadcast nationally on ESPNU. 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.