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North Carolina grabbed its third goal with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Ryleigh Heck dribbled down the right flank, split two defenders, and slotted past Syracuse goalkeeper Brooke Borzymowski.

Heck’s score was one of just six total shots for the Tar Heels, who finished two shy of SU’s mark of eight. Yet, despite the shooting disparity, No. 3 UNC (10-2, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) cruised to a 4-1 victory over the No. 13 Orange (9-4, 1-3 ACC).

Eight minutes into the contest, Syracuse received its first opportunity. Forward Hattie Madden drove forward but saw her shot blocked by a North Carolina defender. Hattie Madden’s effort was the only SU shot attempt in the opening period as the Orange couldn’t seem to enter the attacking circle with possession.

Then, 18 seconds into the second period, with the score still tied at 0-0, Syracuse forward Amber Coebergh drew a penalty corner. However, the ensuing shot was blocked. Pouncing on the rebound, defender Eefke van den Nieuwenhof fired toward net but her attempt bounced off of a defender’s knee for another corner.

Upon reentry, forward Pieke van de Pas took the first shot which UNC goalkeeper Maddie Kahn spilled into the path of Charlotte de Vries. De Vries took a backhand toward the left side of the goal but Kahn stuck her right leg out to make another save.

At the 3:05 mark of the second quarter, UNC drew a penalty corner. Romea Riccardo and Pleun Lammers combined to create the perfect setup for Charly Bruder, who placed the ball into the top left of the goal for the game’s first score.

Around four minutes later, Syracuse had a string of very good looks but couldn’t get a shot off. Hattie Madden looked to shoot on another threatening move forward but the opportunity was snuffed out.

UNC doubled its advantage through a Sanne Hak penalty stroke at the 24:09 mark. The shot was only the Tar Heels’ third of the half, but their efficiency led to an early 2-0 advantage.

In the third quarter, Syracuse’s offense continued to struggle. A green card given to van de Pas was the only statistic recorded through the first 10 minutes, as neither team could generate a shot nor a penalty corner.

Following Heck’s goal, which gave UNC a commanding 3-0 lead, the North Carolina defense once again foiled another Syracuse attack. Though the Tar Heels were able to draw a penalty corner on the counter, Jasmina Smolenaars missed from near the center of the circle to end the third.

Katie Dixon put North Carolina up 4-0 just two minutes into the final period. Her shot seemingly deflected off Borzymowski and into the goal. Heck’s contribution marked the fourth different scorer for UNC on Friday night.

Still scoreless, the Orange earned a penalty corner at the 13:47 mark of the fourth quarter. Off of a blocked shot, van den Nieuwenhof fired a second try toward net but earned a penalty stroke in the process. North Carolia head coach Erin Matson challenged the call, but after a quick replay, the call stood.

Van den Nieuwenhof put the Orange on the scoreboard, sliding the penalty stroke into the back of the cage. The goal was her 13th of the season and tied Duke’s Alaina McVeigh for 1st in the ACC. It was also her fourth straight game with a penalty stroke goal.

“You saw a different kind of fire come alive, and that’s what we need everybody to bring all the time,” SU head coach Lynn Farquhar said about SU’s unwillingness to give up down 4-0.

Though Syracuse ended the game leading in shots and even penalty corners (5-3), its struggle against ranked opponents continued as the Orange slumped to their second loss in three games, 4-1.

Published on October 13, 2023 at 9:19 pm