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Syracuse is on a tear. It’s playing its best lacrosse under Gary Gait, embarking on its longest win streak since he took over in 2021. The Orange have won six straight games and haven’t lost since the second game of their 37-day road trip. If the NCAA Tournament started today, SU would have a good argument to be the top overall seed.

Before arriving there, Syracuse still has some work to do. It got off to a solid start in conference play, defeating then-No. 6 Duke 16-15 in a thrilling affair. With No. 1 Notre Dame losing to Virginia, the Atlantic Coast Conference is wide open, and Syracuse’s trip this week to North Carolina holds a lot of weight.

The Tar Heels have just one blemish on their record — an 11-9 defeat to Princeton on March 1 — and boast one of the most complete rosters in the country. Syracuse has been challenged all season by its schedule, but this might be the toughest test yet.

Here’s how our beat writers feel No. 3 Syracuse (9-2, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) will fare against No. 2 North Carolina (9-1, ACC):

Zak Wolf (9-2)
All good things must come to an end
Syracuse 12, North Carolina 13

Yeah, I said it. Syracuse is going to lose a game for the first time in over a month. The likelihood that the Orange run the table the rest of the season is low. That doesn’t mean one more blemish should be cause for panic.

North Carolina is really good. The Tar Heels completely dismantled Harvard — which defeated Syracuse in February — on a neutral field for their third straight ranked win. UNC’s firepower is reason for concern for Syracuse. Owen Duffy and Dominic Pietramala might be the best one-two punch in the sport, and their athleticism will give Syracuse problems, just like Benn Johnston and Max Sloat did last week.

Duffy and Pietramala’s 88 points account for 39% of UNC’s points this year. I’ve argued in the past that being uber-reliant on two players can be problematic, but UNC’s duo is so talented that I can overlook that. The Tar Heels also have supplemental options at their disposal, like their all-freshman second midfield line, which is getting better with each game.

Above all, UNC will simply have more possessions than its opponents every game. Faceoff man Brady Wambach is winning an astonishing 71.8% of his attempts this season. John Mullen is a formidable opponent, but if his violations continue to be an issue, Syracuse is in for a long day.

This one won’t be a blowout. Rather, it’ll be two heavyweights exchanging blow after blow. But Syracuse is a different team away from the JMA Wireless Dome, and taking that into account, its win streak stops in Chapel Hill.

Nicholas Alumkal (8-3)
Pine State Proclamation
Syracuse 14, North Carolina 13

I’m not sure why I believe in this Syracuse team, but I do. The Orange won me over with their performance against Duke Saturday, which followed a throttling of Georgetown. SU will complete the Tobacco Road sweep Saturday in Chapel Hill. It’ll be a Pine State Proclamation that Syracuse may well be the best team in the country and the ACC.

Why do I think so highly of Syracuse? Since this season has pivotal stakes for the soon-departing 2022 recruiting class, that urgency will show against UNC like it did against Duke. Joey Spallina, seven points away from breaking the program record, will be chomping at the bit. I could see him topping that list Saturday. Despite a 44.4% save percentage against the Blue Devils, goalie Jimmy McCool came up with some big stops late, namely a brave kick save.

Syracuse has a great attack like UNC’s Duffy-Pietramala two-man punch. The Orange have a reliable goalie in net and a capable defense that has proven to quiet — or altogether silence — top opposition. There isn’t a ton separating the two squads in those categories. However, at the faceoff X, North Carolina has a clear advantage. Wambach is near-automatic. Winning 88% of your draws in any game, as he did Saturday versus then-No. 3 Harvard, proves that.

Yet, I’m holding out hope in SU’s Mullen not to lose by that high a proportion. He can — and likely will — lose the faceoff battle overall. But as long as he hangs around 45% and gives his team ample possessions, I expect the Orange to do enough on both ends to outscore the Tar Heels. Call me Pollyanna, but I expect a statement win in Chapel Hill from the Orange.

Mauricio Palmar (8-3)
Face the truth
Syracuse 12, North Carolina 15

It’s been said before that a Chrysler 3000 looks like a Rolls-Royce Phantom until a Rolls-Royce Phantom pulls up. Likewise, Mullen looks like an All-American faceoff specialist until an All-American faceoff specialist pulls up. Too bad Wambach’s next up on the schedule.

You can say it all you want: UNC’s attack is too top-heavy, its defense isn’t good enough and its midfield doesn’t match Syracuse’s. But Wambach is the great equalizer. His ability to win extra possessions is second-to-none, and it makes him the most important player on a Tar Heel squad with a whole lot of important players.

You want to know what Wambach did this past weekend to the Harvard faceoff unit, which nearly won 50% of its faceoffs against Mullen in February? Held it to four faceoff wins in 27 tries.

UNC beat Harvard 17-7, for the record. The truth is, when you have weapons like Duffy and Pietramala who can score against anyone, and you have a player like Wambach who can win them possessions against anyone, there’s not much anyone can do to stop you.

The truth hurts. SU — and Mullen, particularly — will face it at the faceoff X on Saturday.

Published on April 2, 2026 at 12:15 am