UNC Women’s Lacrosse 2025-2026
- Thread starter airball
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I should had them bring me some B’s Barbecue.
Julia O’Connor has really done a nice job. She is playing against zones for her passing and has 13 assists with only 4 turnovers. She will be even more valuable if she improves her finishing.
Anybody else sort of like not having the target on our backs as much right now? I like having a hungry team late in the season.
I just looked at Maryland's schedule, they have not played anyone yet that is a major power. It will be interesting to see how they do against NW and Ohio State later on down the road. They barely escape getting beat over the weekend. They are undefeated and that is why they are ranked number 1.
The NW loss was good for this team. I said it before the season started that it was very unlikely they would go undefeated. It's extremely difficult due to game to game variables and the randomness of the universe..
UNC's undefeated seasons are not the norm but the outlier in the wider landscape
It was also a good reminder to the team that they aren't invincible. The defense lost more and more confidence as the game went on and Betty was just not seeing the ball well. NW realized this and became very aggressive in how they attacked UNC and started shooting from everywhere and it kept going in. I think that was just great coaching by KAH.
Grace Ann Leonard struggled. Even Sam Forrest was beat clean a couple times. Just an off game all around by the defense and goalies. The defense is not elite but they are better than what they showed. plenty good enough to hold most teams under 10 goals.
I think the team will be fine. I still think they are the best team in the nation and the championship will go through them
UNC's undefeated seasons are not the norm but the outlier in the wider landscape
It was also a good reminder to the team that they aren't invincible. The defense lost more and more confidence as the game went on and Betty was just not seeing the ball well. NW realized this and became very aggressive in how they attacked UNC and started shooting from everywhere and it kept going in. I think that was just great coaching by KAH.
Grace Ann Leonard struggled. Even Sam Forrest was beat clean a couple times. Just an off game all around by the defense and goalies. The defense is not elite but they are better than what they showed. plenty good enough to hold most teams under 10 goals.
I think the team will be fine. I still think they are the best team in the nation and the championship will go through them
I fervently hope the Heels encounter Northwestern again in the tourney. And while we’re at it, let’s play Maryland, also — it’s been six years since the last UNC-Maryland women’s lacrosse game.
GO HEELS!
GO HEELS!
Hi Kleizaster you forgot to mention the fact that the game against NW was Link's first game back. She was rusty some and her timing and rhythm was off. As the game went on, she started to gain some momentum and confidence. She did make some big saves. Also, we did have our chances to still win this game. They beat us in overtime. I do get what you are saying, losing a game like this now can only help you down the road. I get it. Lastly, by her being back now, this is going to put some pressure on Nelson to play better moving forward or else Link will be coming in to replace you. This is something that we did not have before the NW game. Last year, Jenny played both of them in all of the games. One played the first half and the other played the second half and if one of them was struggling, she immediately got replaced. This a good luxury to have moving forward IMO.
I am seeing a lot of inaccurate statistical errors re: shots on goal. The UNC - Northwestern box score provides an example.
The box score says UNC had 17 SOG.
(NW’s SOGs are also incorrect: 17 goals + 6 saves = 23 SOGs; box score says 20)
I am seeing this mistake in quite a few box scores. I realize that I am probably the only person who spends much time with stats, but it brings into question the accuracy of the other stats.
(BTW, shots off the pipes are NOT SOGs)
Not much point in bringing this up; I guess I am just whining. I’ll get over it.
- Definition: SOG consists only of shots scoring or those saved by the goalie.
The box score says UNC had 17 SOG.
(NW’s SOGs are also incorrect: 17 goals + 6 saves = 23 SOGs; box score says 20)
I am seeing this mistake in quite a few box scores. I realize that I am probably the only person who spends much time with stats, but it brings into question the accuracy of the other stats.
(BTW, shots off the pipes are NOT SOGs)
Not much point in bringing this up; I guess I am just whining. I’ll get over it.
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You're not whining at all. The stats are supposed to be checked for accuracy by the home team's statistician before they are sent to the NCAA. Based upon your attention to detail, you should probably be that statistician. Nice job catching the error. I'm guessing that if you drilled down into the stats, you'd see a ton of errors on draw control stats and ground balls.
A 2026 UNC signee is USA Lacrosse’s highlighted high school player of the week.
On a chilly afternoon in Sayville, Sophia Buffardi had ice water in her veins in a battle of New York State championship contenders Saturday afternoon.
The North Carolina-bound senior already had a pair of assists before netting the behind-the-back winner with 45 seconds left to lift Sayville (N.Y.), arguably the favorite in Class C this year, to a 6-5 victory over four-time defending Class B champion Victor (N.Y.).
“Sophia has put so much time into mastering her skills as a player and a teammate,” Sayville head coach Gary Jensen said. “Because of this dedication, she not only has total confidence in what she knows she can deliver on the field, but her team does as well. She has made a habit of delivering under pressure. This was not the first time she has done this, and it surely won’t be her last.”
FWIW, IL rates Sophia as the #4 player in the 2026 class. (We are used to UNC having strong recruiting classes, but I think the 10-player 2026 class has a strong chance to be special.)
FWIW, here is the entire USA Lacrosse Magazine article:
www.usalacrosse.com
FYI, Sayville is Class C, while Victor is the 4-time Class B Champion. Class B is a higher classification (larger school). IIRC, Sayville was the Class C champion two seasons ago (2024).
NORTHEAST
Sophia Buffardi, Sayville (N.Y.)On a chilly afternoon in Sayville, Sophia Buffardi had ice water in her veins in a battle of New York State championship contenders Saturday afternoon.
The North Carolina-bound senior already had a pair of assists before netting the behind-the-back winner with 45 seconds left to lift Sayville (N.Y.), arguably the favorite in Class C this year, to a 6-5 victory over four-time defending Class B champion Victor (N.Y.).
“Sophia has put so much time into mastering her skills as a player and a teammate,” Sayville head coach Gary Jensen said. “Because of this dedication, she not only has total confidence in what she knows she can deliver on the field, but her team does as well. She has made a habit of delivering under pressure. This was not the first time she has done this, and it surely won’t be her last.”
FWIW, IL rates Sophia as the #4 player in the 2026 class. (We are used to UNC having strong recruiting classes, but I think the 10-player 2026 class has a strong chance to be special.)
FWIW, here is the entire USA Lacrosse Magazine article:
BTB GWG: Buffardi Headlines USA Lacrosse High School Girls' Players of the Week
Sophia Buffardi, Kelsey Young, Maison Van den Bossche, Charlotte Cook and Sadie Ghali have earned USA Lacrosse High School Girls' Player of the Week honors.
www.usalacrosse.com
FYI, Sayville is Class C, while Victor is the 4-time Class B Champion. Class B is a higher classification (larger school). IIRC, Sayville was the Class C champion two seasons ago (2024).
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The 2026 class is ranked as the number 1 class for the 2026 year; therefore, we have the number 1 ranked class coming in next year. and no, you was not whining about the NW lost. We had them but we just did not finish them off. I still think about that as well, but that is okay. This lost will serve as a wake up call. Go Heels!
Inside Lacrosse just released its midseason All-American Teams. I've long suspected that their writers are overly influenced by the polls, now I'm sure of it. Shea Dolce was listed as one of three Honorable Mention goalies. How can anyone objectively look at her game and think that she's not the best goalie in the country? If she's not in the goal circle for BC, they probably have two wins this season.
I don’t recall this being posted — in the senior day tributes, the comments indicated that both Kaleigh Harden and Ellie Traggio intend to return to play next season. Both have missed a season due to injury. Of course, circumstances could change.
This would seemingly eliminate any chance that Ellie Traggio will be returning to play this season.
This would seemingly eliminate any chance that Ellie Traggio will be returning to play this season.
She might have been the most important player on defense. We didn't realize at the time but her absence has opened some eyes for sure.
Ellie Traggio and Kayleigh Harden are two of the true unsung heroes on the team.
Last season, Traggio led the team with 34 groundballs and had 19 caused turnovers (2nd on the 2025 team); remarkably she had zero turnovers last season.
Kayleigh Harden has excelled as a circle player on the draw team. She tied for the team lead in draws with 63 in 2025 and leads this year’s team with 54 in 11 games. Five draws/game is remarkable for a circle player. As a two-way midfielder, last season she had 26 groundballs and 17 caused turnovers. This season, in 11 games, Harden has 12 groundballs and 8 caused turnovers with only 2 turnovers.
The return of these two “glue” players will be instrumental to the success of the 2027 Heels.
Last season, Traggio led the team with 34 groundballs and had 19 caused turnovers (2nd on the 2025 team); remarkably she had zero turnovers last season.
Kayleigh Harden has excelled as a circle player on the draw team. She tied for the team lead in draws with 63 in 2025 and leads this year’s team with 54 in 11 games. Five draws/game is remarkable for a circle player. As a two-way midfielder, last season she had 26 groundballs and 17 caused turnovers. This season, in 11 games, Harden has 12 groundballs and 8 caused turnovers with only 2 turnovers.
The return of these two “glue” players will be instrumental to the success of the 2027 Heels.
The first wave of the 2026 New Balance Girls Senior All-American Lacrosse game was announced today. UNC signees Cece Powell (Marcellus, NY) and Sophia Buffardi (Sayville, NY) were among the 11 players selected. Maryland, Florida and Syracuse each had two selections, while Penn State, Boston College and Notre Dame each had a single selection.
This is going to be a drawn out process as the game is scheduled for July 25. I suspect we will see the second wave in about three weeks.
This is going to be a drawn out process as the game is scheduled for July 25. I suspect we will see the second wave in about three weeks.
Half: 12-2, CH 5g/2a
As much as we all have seen her play, CH still makes plays that are jaw-dropping.
(UNC is 3 of 15 on draws.)
As much as we all have seen her play, CH still makes plays that are jaw-dropping.
(UNC is 3 of 15 on draws.)
lol. 16-2 and crowd and announcers going crazy because one shot got saved
I rarely listen to the ESPN announcers, especially North on the women,s side and carcaterra on the men,s side. Mute is your friend where they're involved. But with that said, I get why the players were going nuts. They need something to deflect from the score and embarrassment.
Final 19 - 4
CH with 7g/2a
Darcy Felter 4g/1a
UNC defense has moderated its pressure — isn’t extending as far out.
GO HEELS!
CH with 7g/2a
Darcy Felter 4g/1a
UNC defense has moderated its pressure — isn’t extending as far out.
GO HEELS!