UNC Lacrosse Teams to Play for the NCAA Title

Philadelphia continues to be good to UNC.

The men's and women's lacrosse teams won their national semifinal games and both will now face Maryland for the national title.

Starting with the women's team on Friday, UNC beat Penn State 12-11 to advance to the title game for the third time in four years. After UNC jumped out to a 3-0 lead, Penn State responded with five straight goals. Three straight goals by the Tar Heels claimed the lead and UNC led 7-6 at halftime. In the second half, UNC outscored PSU 5-1 over the first 15 minutes before a flurry of Nittany Lion goals cut the Tar Heel lead to 12-11 with 7:12 left. UNC killed most of the clock but still needed Caylee Waters save with less than a minute remaining to preserve the one goal win.

On the men's side, UNC scoring binge continued with the Tar Heels taking a 9-2 first quarter lead and 14-5 at halftime on the way to a 18-13 win over #7 Loyola. Tar Heel attacker Chris Cloutier had nine goals setting championship weekend record.

The UNC women will face Maryland in the title game for a second straight season and the third time in four seasons. UNC beat the Terps for the title in 2013 with Maryland returning the favor in 2015. The game is scheduled for Sunday at 12:00 PM on ESPNU. This meeting is the second of the season between the two teams. UNC dropped an 8-7 decision to Maryland in Chapel Hill on February 27th.

For the men, it will be a Memorial Day match-up against Maryland beginning at 1:00 PM on ESPN2. UNC will be seeking its first title since 1991 and looking to avenge an 11-8 loss to the Terps on March 26th in College Park.