UNC to start ACC tournament with Boston College Eagles

It’s been more than a decade since the North Carolina women’s lacrosse team has brought an ACC tournament title back to Chapel Hill.

In the last three years the Tar Heels have made it to the championship game only to fall short each time.

The quest to snap that streak starts at 3 p.m. today on Fetzer Field, when the squad will take on Boston College, who defeated Virginia Tech in the first round Thursday.

Senior Kara Cannizzaro said she could not be more excited to lace up her cleats and run out onto her home field. But she said that in order to be successful against the Eagles today, it all comes down to focus.

“We’re really just focused on being in the moment and playing our game how we want to play,” she said.

“I think it’s great that we’re at home, but we would be ready to play wherever we go.”

The last time the Tar Heels matched up with Boston College, UNC came away with a 19-11 win as Brittney Coppa led the way with five goals.

Since the victory, junior Abbey Friend said her team has matured and has proved it can play at the highest level.

She, too, said focusing on one play at a time and breaking the two halves down into four quarters will help the group maintain its focus.

“In the first 15 minutes left in the first half, we kind of all take a mental note and kind of let the first quarter go and really focus on the second quarter,” she said.

“Focusing on the moment is really important, not necessarily looking back at what happened or looking toward the future of the game.”

And with five Tar Heels just awarded ACC honors, Cannizzaro said her team should have no problem doing that.

“I have more than enough confidence in my team that we can finish the games now,” she said.

“We were young, but we’re old and mature now. We’ve got everything together so I’m excited for the weekend.”

A win today would carry the Tar Heels to the ACC final yet again, where they might just see top-seeded Maryland waiting for them.

The Terrapins snapped UNC’s 11-game winning streak this season with a one-goal victory in College Park. They also defeated the Tar Heels in the ACC final last season.

“We’re both fast athletic midfields, strong defenses, strong attacks,” Friend said. It’s just the matchup of two really great teams and it’s always fun playing them.”

Though Cannizzaro said it would certainly be an exciting game of lacrosse if the two teams were to meet again, the senior said she is more focused on being with her teammates in her final ACC tournament.

“I like to act like it’s not my senior year. It’s hard, it’s sad, but it’s also awesome and amazing at the same time, because this is my favorite team. I would never want to play a senior year with any other team,” she said.

“It’s been a great run, but I think it’s far from over and we’ll have so much fun. I’m really excited for it.”

Contact the desk editor at sports@dailytarheel.com.