The Orange upset No. 1 North Carolina on the road on Saturday.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — No. 11 Syracuse scored the first four goals of the game on its way to a 13-11 upset of defending national champion and second-ranked North Carolina on Saturday in Chapel Hill. The win extends the Orange's winning streak to four and puts Syracuse in a tie for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.
"It was a great opportunity for us to show that we can pick it up a notch," said Syracuse head coach Gary Gait. "We're just trying to get better every game. I thought our players came through today and made plays. It was two tough teams playing against each other and we were able to hang on and come out on top."
Syracuse extends winning streak to four with today's win! pic.twitter.com/mSfx636S08
— Syracuse Women's Lax (@CuseWLAX) April 15, 2017
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
The Orange (12-4, 5-1) jumped out to an early lead as four different players found the back of the net for Syracuse in the first 8:32. The Orange kept North Carolina (12-2, 5-1) off the scoreboard until the 16:00 mark when the Tar Heels started a 5-2 scoring run to end the first half to cut Syracuse lead to 6-5 at halftime.
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North Carolina recorded two of the first three goals after intermission to tie the game at 7-7 with 23:03 remaining. Less than two minutes later, junior Neena Merola broke the tie and gave Syracuse the lead for good with a free-position goal. The teams traded goals before freshman Emily Hawryschuk scored her fourth goal of the day, sparking a 4-0 scoring run for the Orange that extended the lead to 12-8 with 8:37 on the clock.
North Carolina fought back and scored three straight, the third coming with 51 seconds remaining to get within two at 13-11. The Orange won the ensuing draw but turned it over, giving the ball back to the Tar Heels. North Carolina was able to get off a shot, but freshman goalkeeper Asa Goldstock made the save as time ran out.
#CuseTV: Watch the highlights from @CuseWLAX's big win at No. 2 North Carolina
— Syracuse Athletics (@Cuse) April 15, 2017
https://t.co/IdyldJKY1A
OF NOTE
Syracuse's victory snapped North Carolina's 18-game winning streak against ACC opponents. Prior to Saturday, the Tar Heels' last loss to a conference foe, including postseason action, was against the Orange in the 2015 ACC tournament final.
Hawryschuk, this week's Inside Lacrosse Rookie of the Week, led the offense with four goals on five shots. She now has 12 goals in her last three games and has taken over the team lead in that category with 31 this season.
Redshirt freshman Cara Quimby dished out a career-high three saves, while defender Alexa Radziewicz recorded her first career assist to go along with two ground balls. Goldstock finished with 12 saves, marking the third time this season she has reached double figures.
