Behind four goals from Emily Hawryschuk, last week’s Inside Lacrosse Rookie of the Week, and Asa Goldstock’s strongest performance of the season in the net, No. 11 Syracuse (12-4, 5-1 Atlantic Coast) topped No. 2 North Carolina (12-2, 5-1), 13-11, Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels never had a lead in the game, and were outshot by the Orange.

With the win, SU extended its winning streak to four games, and after losing four of five in a dismal stretch at the end of March, the Syracuse sits tied at the top of the ACC with the Tar Heels, each boasting a 5-1 conference record.

“We’re just young, so I think we’re growing, I’m hoping that’s the case,” SU head coach Gary Gait said. “We certainly played better than we did in those early March games; our defense is coming together, our goalie is coming together and making better saves, and I just hope it continues and they generate confidence off of this.”

The Orange scored four straight to begin Saturday’s contest, and it took the Tar Heels 14 minutes to get on the scoreboard. With under eight minutes left in the first half, the Orange held a 6-2 lead, which UNC cut to 6-5 by the end of the half.

Hawryschuk had two goals in the first half for the Orange, and UNC attack Ela Hazar had two for the Tar Heels.

“Our offense, especially early, made good decisions on our shots,” Gait said. “We buried them early and took the lead, which gave us confidence and was good for them.”

The Orange struggled to keep its lead in the second half, as the Tar Heels clawed back to tie the game at seven with 23 minutes left, after Sammy Jo Tracy netted an unassisted goal, her second of the game for UNC.

But with 15 minutes left, the Orange went on a four-goal run, as Hawryschuk netted her fourth of the game and Riley Donahue, Alie Jimerson and Mary Rahal each added another to the tally.

Despite three straight Tar Heel goals to end the contest, including one by Marie McCool with under a minute left, SU held onto its slim lead for the 13-11 win.

Goldstock had one of her best performances of the season Saturday, posting 12 saves on 23 UNC shots on goal. Allowing only 11 goals goals on the day, Goldstock posted a save percentage of .522, her best since Northwestern on March 3. Goldstock also allowed only one goal in man-up situations all game.

The Orange returns home on April 18 to take on No. 8 Cornell in its final home matchup of the season, before finishing its regular season April 22 at unranked Louisville.

“We’ve been in the top-four for four years now, and I continue telling the team that we belong there,” Gait said. “That’s kind of the message: we’re not here by fluke, and we are a top-four-caliber team. We just have to keep playing like it.”

Published on April 15, 2017 at 3:30 pm

Contact Matt: mjfel100@syr.edu