Observations from SU’s ACCT loss to No. 1 UNC: Q1 rampage, draw abomination
North Carolina didn’t allow Syracuse to touch the ball for over four minutes during the first quarter, winning every draw in that span. Courtesy of Nell Redmond/theACC.com
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It would’ve been a stretch to say Syracuse stood a chance with Goliaths like No. 1 North Carolina in February. The Orange tried but failed in a 13-9 loss, part of a three-game losing streak.
But there’s a different SU team when it looks in the mirror now. Defeats to UNC, Maryland and Stanford were washed away. Syracuse dominated Northwestern — last year’s NCAA Tournament runner-up — and never trailed in an upset over Yale, which terminated its 2025 season in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
Regy Thorpe said his squad could compete with anyone, and that was the case during its 12-game winning streak. In the same breath, he said SU could lose any game. That was exposed in a jarring upset loss to Boston College, and Friday’s performance against the Tar Heels reinforced that.
Here are some observations from No. 4 seed Syracuse’s (13-5, 7-3 Atlantic Coast) 19-9 blowout defeat to No. 1 seed North Carolina (15-1, 10-0 ACC) in the ACC Tournament Semifinals:
1st-quarter rampage
Syracuse hasn’t played a quarter quite like what it endured in the first frame Friday. The Orange normally barge ahead in the opening quarter, allowing fewer than three goals in every opening quarter since their season-opening three-game skid.
But lo and behold, a whopping eight goals with seven coming in a near-five-minute span.
SU’s lack of discipline inside the 8-meter arc began with Chloe Humphrey’s score two minutes in after a shooting-lane violation. While the Orange knotted things at one, the Tar Heels embarked on a run they’ve accomplished countless times this year.
Darcy Felter, Eva Ingrilli and Addison Pattillo optimized UNC draw wins, scoring off a quick sprint down half the field. Pattillo’s free-position score secured a four-goal run in 93 seconds.
Felter and Eliza Osburn both nabbed their second goals of the quarter later on, uncharacteristically flipping SU’s defense on its head. Though the Orange hadn’t conceded double digits in a game since Feb. 28, North Carolina’s eight first-quarter goals terminated that idea early.
Draw abomination
The reason North Carolina had abundant offensive opportunities was because it always had the ball. Every time it scored, UNC kept its foot on the pedal and took possession back.
That stems from the Tar Heels’ draw prowess. Molly Guzik plunged the ball forward for Emma Muchnick to scoop on the opening draw, but that was a rare victory.
After Muchnick tied things at one, Sarah Gresham triggered instant offense with a control, and North Carolina rotated the ball before Felter’s go-ahead goal. The next control jolted a score 39 seconds later.
Things were getting so messy on the draw that Syracuse didn’t touch the ball for over four minutes. That stretch began with the aforementioned Gresham win just under three minutes to play in the first quarter and ended with Bri Peters jumping on a loose ball to stem the bleeding. By that point, SU was down 7-1, conceding six goals without a touch.
The Orange tried everything, but the Tar Heels wouldn’t budge. Guzik rotated with Joely Caramelli in search of any draw hope. UNC routed SU on the draw 9-3 in the first frame. Things evened out a bit in the second quarter, but Thorpe opted for freshman Ireland Mistretta the rest of the way, and SU trailed 21-9 at the final whistle.
Leaning on free position
If free-position shots didn’t exist, Syracuse would’ve scored once in the first half.
Granted, UNC maximized those chances, too, with three of its 12 first-half goals coming in 8-meter fashion. Meanwhile, when SU drove inside, it was suppressed.
Since Syracuse didn’t possess the ball for over four minutes, it couldn’t push forward. When it finally won a draw, Peters was stymied by Betty Nelson. A minute and a half later, Muchnick was fouled by Kaleigh Harden and scored her second goal of the day.
Once is a coincidence, so when SU converted its second straight chance, it seemed the free position was its only shot to compete. Avery Roberts knocked Alexa Vogelman over with just over three minutes left in the first quarter, and the junior capped a brief 2-1 Syracuse run.
Mileena Cotter benefited from a lane violation early in the second stanza to trim the Tar Heels’ lead to 9-4. Muchnick then nabbed her second free-position score to reach a hat trick.
Mini offensive resurgence
After trailing 12-4 at halftime, it was clear the Orange had to be perfect and channel a season-best offensive performance in the final 30 minutes.
That wasn’t feasible, but they started playing the lacrosse they’ve known all season in the third frame. Dan Guyette stood on her head with two stops on five of the Tar Heels’ shots on target, helping SU outscore UNC 4-3 across the 15-minute span.
Syracuse matched North Carolina with five shots on goal, with just one being trapped by Nelson. Vogelman traversed through the Tar Heels’ defensive labyrinth with quick side steps and scored the half’s opening goal.
Muchnick’s free-position score marked back-to-back goals, and the Orange didn’t concede in the quarter for over 10 minutes, reminiscent of they’re typical lockdown defense. Peters and Mackenzie Rich nabbed consecutive scores to close the frame down by seven. While that didn’t amount to any comeback, it was a positive sign in a desolate position.
