Women’s Lacrosse: No. 14 Virginia dropped by No. 2 Tar Heels, 20-8

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The No. 14 Virginia women’s lacrosse team suffered a 20-8 defeat at No. 2 North Carolina on Saturday at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill.

North Carolina broke open a 3-2 game with a 6-0 run to go up 9-2 with 7:40 remaining in the second quarter. Sophomore attacker Madison Alaimo started a Cavalier comeback, scoring the first of four straight goals to make it 9-6 with 1:29 left in the half.

North Carolina (7-0, 3-0 ACC) scored with 21 seconds remaining in the period, but sophomore midfielder Kate Galica answered by winning the draw and heading straight to goal to score with two seconds remaining to make it 10-7 at the break.

The Tar Heels outscored the Cavaliers, 10-1, in the second half. Freshman attacker Jayden Piraino scored the lone Cavalier goal with 8:55 left in the game, ending a 21-minute scoring drought.

Junior goalkeeper Mel Josephson had a career-high 13 saves for the Hoos, who dropped to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play with the loss.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Madison Alaimo had a hat trick for the second straight game. It was the third of her career. She also had an assist for four points
• Kate Galica had 12 draw controls, her fourth game this season with 12 or more draws
• Galica also scored two goals
• Freshmen Addi Foster, Jayden Piriano and Payton Sfreddo had a goal apiece
• Mel Josephson had eight saves in the first half and five in the second. Her previous career high was 12 which she had reached six times
• North Carolina’s two goalkeepers made 12 saves
• UNC held a 39-32 edge in shots
• Virginia had a 19-11 edge in draws 

UP NEXT

Virginia is back home next Saturday (March 15), hosting No. 18 Duke at noon. This is UVA’s Alumni Game, as well as the Headstrong Game.