Women s lacrosse coaches discuss UNC-Boston College matchup in NCAA Tournament semifinals dailytarheel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailytarheel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Thu May 27 2021 | Ella Brockway | College
PHOTO BY JEFFREY A. CAMARATI / UNC ATHLETICS
Kayla Wood’s caused turnover for North Carolina near the end of its quarterfinal game against Stony Brook on Saturday was arguably her most timely play of the season.
The senior has stepped up for the Tar Heels throughout their 20-0 campaign five ground balls and four draw controls across their two ACC tournament games, even a first career assist against Virginia in April but this one came during the year’s most pivotal moment yet.
With her team up only one goal with less than four minutes left, Wood knocked down a Seawolves pass just shy of midfield. Caitlyn Wurzburger scooped up the ground ball. About a minute later, Ally Mastroianni scored on a free-position shot to give North Carolina a two-goal lead that would help seal its spot in the Final Four.
Wed Apr 21 2021 | Nelson Rice | College
Before Taylor Moreno steps out onto the University of North Carolina’s Dorrance Field for warmups, she pauses in front of a mural at the far end of the home tunnel. The white wall is a few feet larger than the six-by-six goal she guards during games. The enlarged eyes of Rameses UNC’s mascot stare back at her behind the three words “WE GET TO” in bold Carolina blue.
Like her teammates, Moreno pats the mural as part of a pregame ritual. The redshirt senior from Huntington, N.Y., however, placed a hand on it before anyone else and can describe the display in minute detail. She painted it.
Friday April 16th, 2021 10:30am
(Photo Courtesy: BC Athletics)
Usually, around this time, the likely NCAA Tournament bracket is coming into a clearer view. Though there may be some upsets in conference tournaments that shake up AQs and snubs on Selection Sunday, we usually have a good idea of who the top dogs and contenders are in conferences.
This year, there are still so many question marks. We know UNC is, as expected, playing like the top team in the country, having survived a scare from Notre Dame. Northwestern has also been dominant but has only played conference opponents in a Big Ten that’s been wild, to say the least. Meanwhile, the CAA is a five-team race with Drexel, a program that hasn’t finished above .500 in conference play in nearly a decade, on the rise. Down south, there’s a Jacksonville team defying expectations and emerging as a dark horse contender.