Boston College
22-1
University of North Carolina
17-4
BC Defeats UNC 15-14 in NCAA National Semifinals
May 24, 2019 | Lacrosse
Eagles move on to their third straight national title game
BALTIMORE, Md. – No. 2 Boston College erased a 7-1 first half deficit as the Eagles stormed back to earn a 15-14 double overtime victory over No. 3 North Carolina in the national semifinals Friday night at Homewood Field in Baltimore. BC advances to the national championship game for the third consecutive season on Sunday versus the winner of top-seeded Maryland and No. 4 Northwestern.
Senior Sam Apuzzo found the back of the net for the game-winning goal to send BC back to the national championship game. Apuzzo's goal came at the 4:48 mark in the second overtime. It was the 91st goal of the season for Apuzzo and her second of the game.
The win moved BC to 22-1 on the season. The 22 victories tie the school record set last season for single-season wins.
North Carolina started quickly as the Tar Heels scored the game's first six goals just under 14 minutes into the contest.Â
BC changed goalies at the 16:03 mark with North Carolina leading 6-0. Senior Lauren Daly made two quick saves to shift momentum as the Eagles scored three of the game's next four goals to cut the deficit to 7-3.
The Eagles started to click offensively nearly 20 minutes into the first half as BC went on a 5-1 to cut the UNC lead to 8-6 at halftime.
Boston College trailed only once all season at halftime, 7-5 at Syracuse, on February 16 in the Carrier Dome.
The Eagles started the second half with momentum as BC scored four of the first five goals to take the lead for the first time at 10-9 on Kate Taylor's 14th goal of the season.
North Carolina would rip off three straight goals to erase a 12-10 deficit to regain the lead at 13-12 with 3:54 remaining.
Dempsey Arsenault and Jordan Lappin responded with goals to give BC the lead back at 14-13, but UNC's Jamie Ortega scored with 1:04 left to force overtime.
Daly came up with a monster save on the doorstep to keep the game tied at 14 in the first overtime before Apuzzo's game-winner to send BC to the title game.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 15, North Carolina 14 (Double overtime)
Records: Boston College 22-1, North Carolina 17-4
Location: Baltimore, Md. – Homewood Field
GAME NOTES
- With the win, Boston College will make its third straight appearance in the NCAA women's lacrosse national championship game. The Eagles will face the winner of No. 1 seed Maryland and No. 4 seed Northwestern Sunday at noon on ESPN2.
- Boston College is now 2-1 against North Carolina this season … it marks the first time under Acacia Walker-Weinstein BC has faced an opponent three times in one season.
- The Eagles are 12-7 all-time in the NCAA tournament. BC has appeared in the NCAAs eight times in school history.
- Tonight's national semifinal appearance marked the third consecutive season BC has reached the Final Four. The Eagles are 3-0 all-time in the national semifinals.
- Tonight's game marked just the second time in 2019 Boston College trailed at halftime. UNC led 8-6 at the half tonight and Syracuse led 7-5 on February 16 at the break.
- Apuzzo has scored at least one goal in 78 of her 79 career games played. Â She has 120 points in 2019.
- Arsenault has recorded at least one point in 49 consecutive contests for the Eagles.
- BC outscored their opponents 394-233 through 23 games this season.
- Cara Urbank led BC with four goals while Dempsey Arsenault tallied a hat trick.
- Apuzzo's two goals added to her BC single-season record for goals with 91.
GAME LEADERS
Boston College
Points: 4, Cara Urbank
Goals: 4, Cara Urbank
Assists: 1, Four players tied
Draw Controls: 8, Sam Apuzzo
Ground Balls: 4, Jillian Reilly
Caused Turnovers: 3, Dempsey Arsenault and Jillian ReillyÂ
Saves: 7, Lauren Daly
North Carolina
Points: 7, Jamie Ortega
Goals: 5, Jamie Ortega
Assists: 4, Katie Hoeg
Draw Controls: 5, Kayla Wood
Ground Balls: 4, Caroline Wakefield
Caused Turnovers: 2, Elise Hennessey
Saves: 10, Taylor Moreno
UP NEXT
Boston College moves on to its third consecutive national championship game Sunday at noon. The Eagles face the winner of Maryland-Northwestern game. ESPNU and Watch ESPN will provide live television coverage.
