CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Bidding to make program history, the Stony Brook women's lacrosse team gave top-seeded North Carolina all it could handle in an NCAA quarterfinal on Saturday.
Unfortunately for the eighth-seeded Seawolves, their celebrated season came to a close with a 14-11 loss to the host Tar Heels.
The Seawolves put a serious scare into the nation's No. 1 team.
Kaeli Huff scored the game-tying goal and
Ally Kennedy followed with the tiebreaker during a four-goal run midway through the second half as Stony Brook built a 10-8 lead.
However, Jamie Ortega pulled UNC even at 11, then assisted Tayler Warehime's tiebreaking goal with 4:19 remaining as UNC closed the game with five straight goals.
Stony Brook (16-3), which entered the game on a 14-game winning streak, was bidding for its first-ever Final Four berth.
The defeat ended the storied careers of Kennedy and
Taryn Ohlmiller, although the talent behind them figures to continue the program's success — just as Kennedy and Ohlmiller carried the mantle in recent seasons after the graduations of Courtney Murphy and Ohlmiller's sister Kylie.
"Our seniors, I'm forever in debt for what they've done for our program and what they've brought to Stony Brook lacrosse through their five years," coach
Joe Spallina said. "I'm disappointed for me not being able to navigate them and help them get to a Final Four that they deserve."
Stony Brook had jumped to a 3-0 lead less than seven minutes into Saturday's game.
UNC held the Seawolves scoreless for the next 21:41 and grabbed a 4-3 lead, but Kennedy got the equalizer late in the first half.
The Tar Heels did grab a 6-4 lead entering halftime, but consecutive goals by
Ellie Masera and
Bridget Considine to open the second half evened the score.
Stony Brook was making its third Elite 8 appearance in the past four tourneys.
"It's certainly a disappoint loss. We did not come here to play close. We did not come here for respect," Spallina said. "We came here to win, and we didn't. So it's a major disappointment."
Spallina went to say, "This was not a typical No. 1-No. 8 matchup."
And while he quibbled with the NCAA Tournament committee's seed, he also saluted UNC.
"They showed the heart of a champion with their backs against the wall, with arguably the best college lacrosse roster of all time," Spallina said. "But I could not be more proud of our players."
