UNC Men’s Lacrosse Faces No. 3 Syracuse in ACC Opener Saturday
UNC men’s lacrosse opens ACC play Saturday at Dorrance Field against No. 3 Syracuse. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. on April 4. The game will air on ESPNU and offer live stats online.
Gameday logistics
Tickets are required for entry. Fans can consult the Dorrance Field gameday guide for details.
Students, faculty, and staff may pick up complimentary dog-section tickets. Distribution begins one hour before faceoff at the Dorrance Field ticket booth.
Dogs at Dorrance
- Each person accompanying a dog must have a ticket to attend.
- Fans with dogs may enter through any stadium entrance.
- Dogs must be seated in sections 19, 20, or 21 only.
- All dogs need current vaccinations and must remain on a fixed leash no longer than six feet.
- Retractable leashes are not allowed. Owners are responsible for their dogs’ behavior.
- The event may be crowded and warm. Please ensure pets are comfortable.
Midseason honors
Inside Lacrosse released midseason All-America lists. Seven Tar Heels were recognized.
- First team: Owen Duffy, Brady Wambach.
- Third team: Ty English, Mason Szewczyk.
- Honorable mention: Leif Hagerup, Dominic Pietramala, Peter Thomann.
Last outing
The Tar Heels beat No. 3 Harvard, 17-7, at Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland. It was Carolina’s first win over a top-three opponent this season.
Owen Duffy scored a career-high seven goals. Brady Wambach won a career-best 22 faceoffs, added an assist, and collected 12 ground balls.
Freshman goalkeeper Josh Marcus made 11 saves. The victory marked Carolina’s fifth ranked win of the year.
What a win would mean
- 14th all-time win over Syracuse and ninth in Chapel Hill.
- 1-0 start in ACC play and a 7-0 mark at Dorrance Field this season.
- Sixth ranked victory of the campaign and a second straight top-three win.
- Would become Coach Breschi’s 271st career victory and his 179th at UNC.
Wambach at the stripe
Brady Wambach ranks third among active Division I players with 544 career faceoff wins. He leads the nation with a .718 faceoff win percentage.
| Player | School | Faceoff Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Micah Hanson | Canisius | 678 |
| Andrew McMeekin | Princeton | 563 |
| Brady Wambach | North Carolina | 544 |
| John Mullen | Syracuse | 522 |
| Luca Accardo | High Point | 487 |
Wambach’s yearly breakdown: 146 wins in 2024, 225 in 2025, and 173 so far in 2026. He became a USILA First Team All-American in 2025.
Defense and trends
Since defensive coordinator Dave Pietramala arrived before 2024, Carolina is 21-0 when allowing nine or fewer goals. Under head coach Joe Breschi, the program is 112-13 when holding opponents to single digits.
This season the Tar Heels are 7-0 in games with nine-or-fewer opponent goals. The defensive string includes several ranked wins.
Games Allowing Nine-or-Fewer Goals
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 13 | High Point | W, 20-9 |
| Feb. 15 | Iona | W, 23-7 |
| Feb. 20 | No. 14 Johns Hopkins | W, 17-9 |
| Feb. 17 | at No. 19 Penn | W, 11-9 |
| March 7 | Brown | W, 19-7 |
| March 14 | No. 9 Penn State | W, 10-8 |
| March 29 | No. 3 Harvard | W, 17-7 |
Filmogaz.com will provide updates and coverage throughout the weekend. Fans can follow the ACC opener at Dorrance Field live on ESPNU and via game stats.
