After securing its sixth consecutive ACC title, the North Carolina women’s lacrosse team has its sights set on bringing home another national championship home to Dorrance Field.
Winners of 53 of their last 55 games, the Tar Heels currently hold an undefeated record for the 2022 season. However, despite its illustrious winning streak, UNC hasn’t won an NCAA title since 2016, which was also the last time North Carolina made an appearance in the championship game.
The road back to the mountaintop begins Sunday for the Tar Heels, as they look to snap the program's five-year NCAA title drought. Here’s a look at a few teams North Carolina could face en route to returning to the Final Four in Baltimore.
Virginia
On Friday at noon, Virginia will square off against Southern California in Chapel Hill, and a win would set up a rematch against North Carolina.
The Cavaliers are led by ACC Freshman of the Year Rachel Clark, who recorded six goals in Virginia’s upset win over Syracuse in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. The first-year midfielder thrives on the right side of the cage, where she’s made a living off of top-pocket finishes on her way to scoring 60 goals this season.
Alongside Clark, senior Ashlyn McGovern rounds out a lethal two-headed attack for UVA. The first team All-ACC honoree also tallied 60 goals this year and ranks second in the conference in shots per game. Unlike her counterpart, McGovern operates largely on the left side of the field and likes to break down defenders in isolation sets.
A large part of the Cavaliers’ struggles, seen in the team’s 9-9 record, have come on the defensive side. As a team, Virginia ranks near the bottom of the ACC in goals allowed per game, surrendering just over 13 goals per contest.
In April, UNC defeated Virginia in Charlottesville, 17-7. Clark and McGovern scored all seven of Virginia's goals.
