UNC Women’s Lacrosse 2025-2026
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Sucks. NW deserved it. Dominated the draw and their goalkeeper was just significantly better tonight. Too easy of a path right to the cage on the game winning goal.
these fiends seem to be the only ones can beat us in Field Hockey and W LAX
Regardless of being top 2 squad or no
they must be stopped
Regardless of being top 2 squad or no
they must be stopped
Chloe’s first collegiate loss, right?
Defense wins championships and this one has some work to do. But I don't think this is a bad loss. These teams will likely play each other again and I'd rather be looking for redemption in the tournament than trying to protect a 3 win streak dating back to last year's final. And I feel bad for ECU and what's about to happen to them on Saturday. We should provide them with some post-game grief counselors.
NW played a fantastic game. They outplayed us and deserved that win. They dominated the draws which was huge. But also there was a tremendous gap in defense/goalkeeping. We had some trouble with their zone and Cuoco was just brilliant. Chloe kept us in it, but they schemed her well in the 2nd half. I feel like Carolina has been coasting some this year and this game hopefully is the cure for that. Got work to do to get to championship form.
Lexie Zenk made some saves after she settled in so I think we will make improvement there; this was her first action of the season so she was bound to have been dealing with some nerves early. And Betty Nelson certainly can come around.
Historically, NW has liked to play some man defense, but chose not to last evening. That is an acknowledgement that they can’t man up against the Heels. Essentially, we generally know how they will defend us if we meet again.
NW brought in transfers Madison Epke and Olivia Adamson to fill offensive slots. Prior to last evening, neither has been very productive thusfar this season. Epke was expected to handle draws, but has been disappointing until last evening. Going into last night’s game, Epke had 18 DCs to Madison Smith’s 73 DCs. Last evening, after UNC won the first 4-5 draws against Smith, Epke was inserted and had 15 self-draws, which is really impressive. Adamson had her second hat trick of the season and added two assists. She had only 13 goals in her first 9 games.
I think the loss of Tess Calabria is a tough setback; it appeared that she had been groomed to be the frontline quarterback/feeder for the offense. We don’t have a left-handed replacement for attacker Olivia Vergano (Kate Levy is a middie). Against a zone defense, assisted off-ball scoring is critical; we only had six assists on 16 goals (37.5%) last evening (by comparison, nine of the 12 goals (75%) we scored in the 2025 championship were assisted).
The defense struggled last evening, but after giving up six goals in both Q2 and Q3, NW was held to two goals in Q4. I haven’t looked at the replay, but our defense seemed to be surprised by NW’s motion and screening last evening; I suspect that NW put some new wrinkles in their gameplan.
NW‘s goalie settled in — she had only 6 saves in the first three quarters, but added 6 more in Q4 and OT.
Although the result was frustrating and disappointing, last night’s game was ultimately very exciting (at least for me). I don’t criticize individual players; I’m sure they are more disappointed than we are. Coach Levy and the staff will make some adjustments and perhaps some personnel changes. TBH, I think this year’s team has some holes that last year’s team didn’t have. But I suspect they will learn from last night’s game and bounce back. There still can be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
GO HEELS!
Historically, NW has liked to play some man defense, but chose not to last evening. That is an acknowledgement that they can’t man up against the Heels. Essentially, we generally know how they will defend us if we meet again.
NW brought in transfers Madison Epke and Olivia Adamson to fill offensive slots. Prior to last evening, neither has been very productive thusfar this season. Epke was expected to handle draws, but has been disappointing until last evening. Going into last night’s game, Epke had 18 DCs to Madison Smith’s 73 DCs. Last evening, after UNC won the first 4-5 draws against Smith, Epke was inserted and had 15 self-draws, which is really impressive. Adamson had her second hat trick of the season and added two assists. She had only 13 goals in her first 9 games.
I think the loss of Tess Calabria is a tough setback; it appeared that she had been groomed to be the frontline quarterback/feeder for the offense. We don’t have a left-handed replacement for attacker Olivia Vergano (Kate Levy is a middie). Against a zone defense, assisted off-ball scoring is critical; we only had six assists on 16 goals (37.5%) last evening (by comparison, nine of the 12 goals (75%) we scored in the 2025 championship were assisted).
The defense struggled last evening, but after giving up six goals in both Q2 and Q3, NW was held to two goals in Q4. I haven’t looked at the replay, but our defense seemed to be surprised by NW’s motion and screening last evening; I suspect that NW put some new wrinkles in their gameplan.
NW‘s goalie settled in — she had only 6 saves in the first three quarters, but added 6 more in Q4 and OT.
Although the result was frustrating and disappointing, last night’s game was ultimately very exciting (at least for me). I don’t criticize individual players; I’m sure they are more disappointed than we are. Coach Levy and the staff will make some adjustments and perhaps some personnel changes. TBH, I think this year’s team has some holes that last year’s team didn’t have. But I suspect they will learn from last night’s game and bounce back. There still can be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
GO HEELS!
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Was I the only one who kept imploring us to shoot low? It seemed like every save was on a high shot and their goalie never stopped the low shots.
A great game. We learn a lot moving forward. We now know the areas that we have to improve in which are Draw Controls and the goalie situation. It was a shame that Zink's first game back was against them. Her timing and rhythm were off because she has played since last year. As the game went on she did make some big saves. I just glad that she is back now. Betty N is struggling right now. I really do believe her confidence has been shaken some and her competitiveness has been shaken some. The question is how does she get this back? I am open for answers. This CH's first lost. She is a competitor. I saw it on her face after the lost. She absorb it, accepted it, and she is determined not to have that feeling again if she has anything to do with it. I am so glad that we have her on our team. A lost like this is good to have during the regular season than to have it happened during the NCAAT. I am very proud of this team. We had our chances to win it but we just did not close it out. Go Heels!
Great group of seniors. Perfect time to be playing EZU. Get the bad taste out of our mouths and everybody should get a chance to play.
Toe is on the line no question. Wasn't it reviewed?
Both of us called that out at home watching the replay.
Honestly, I turned it off in frustration immediately after the goal was scored, so I have no idea. I did not see the foot myself and saw no reviews.
But if I am a ref I am reviewing pretty much and play that involves Taylor. Just sayin'.
We scored 10 goals in the first 6:30 of the first quarter. EZU then scored a goal to briefly stop the running clock.
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