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North Carolina takes down BC to win lacrosse national championship

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The Tar Heels celebrate after scoring against Boston College during NCAA title game Sunday. (Greg Fiume/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

The North Carolina women’s lacrosse team held off a persistent Boston College squad in a drama-filled final to clinch the national lacrosse championship.

The 12-11 victory against the Eagles caps off an undefeated season from the Tar Heels (22-0), making North Carolina the first undefeated champions since 2017.

Sunday’s final was a back-and-forth affair, with Boston College and North Carolina trading goals. The teams were knotted 8-8 heading into the fourth quarter.

The third frame was all BC, with goalie Rachel Hall notching eight saves in the second half to swing the momentum in the Eagles’ favor. Charlotte North led all players in goals with four, pulling Boston College to an 8-7 lead before the Tar Heels responded at the end of the quarter.

North Carolina, though, captured the momentum down the stretch.

The Tar Heels took the lead with five minutes and 26 seconds on the clock before adding another goal with 2:20 remaining. That marked the first time in more than twenty minutes that either team had led by more than a goal.

The Tar Heels’ late advantage endured despite a crafty offensive maneuver from BC’s Cassidy Weeks to pull the eagles within one goal with 14 seconds left on the clock.

North Carolina, however, won possession on the ensuing faceoff to deny Boston College of back-to-back titles.

The national championship marks the Tar Heels’ third title since 2013 and their first since 2016.