Tar Heels Hold Off Stanford to Reach 15th National Semifinal

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Since 2009, every graduating class at North Carolina has witnessed the women’s lacrosse program reach the final four of the NCAA tournament. On Thursday, inside the confines of Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels ensured that the class of 2029 would as well.

North Carolina reached its 15th national semifinal in program history with a wire-to-wire 14-11 win over Stanford. It marked the Tar Heels’ third victory over the Cardinal in the last 34 days and brought an end to Stanford’s historic season nearly 2,800 miles from where it began.

“Beating a team three times is really hard, but we knew what we were playing for,” attacker Addison Pattillo said. “We were playing to get to the final four again, and we just gave it everything we had.”

Despite never trailing, it was not all smooth sailing for North Carolina.

With 9:28 to play in the second quarter, Stanford had the Tar Heels square in its sights.  

Attacker Aliya Polisky’s solo effort resulted in a wraparound score for the Cardinal, as her 50th goal of the season cut the Tar Heel advantage to one at 5-4.

As tension filled the air, North Carolina cut right through it, scoring three unanswered goals to end the half, while surrendering just one shot on goal. The Tar Heels outscored Stanford 4-2 in each of the first two quarters to hold an 8-4 advantage at the break.

“We know how athletic and great of a team they are, but everyone on this team is so bought in and [has] that winning mentality,” midfielder Kayleigh Harden said. “We needed to do a little better job offensively and defensively. We were just making adjustments and were playing more patiently to get those goals and not force anything.”

The Tar Heels held Stanford scoreless over the next 11:41 and allowed just three goals over the ensuing 21:32.

Harden was a stalwart on the defensive end for the Tar Heels and a major part of the increased intensity, as she recorded a game-high seven caused turnovers in the win. She forced 35 percent of Stanford's turnovers (20) and helped UNC allow just 13 shots on goal (22 overall).

Each time the Cardinal continued to apply pressure, North Carolina answered, maintaining a three-goal lead for the final 38 minutes of gametime.

On the offensive end, Chloe Humphrey continued her repeat campaign for the Tewaaraton Award, notching three second-half goals to reach 102 on the season. It moved her into a tie for third all-time at North Carolina and marked her 36th hat trick in 41 career games.

Pattillo matched Humprey’s scoring output, as her 15th career hat trick moved her goal total to 55 on the season, good for second on the roster.

“Our captains and our leadership are incredible,” Pattillo said. “All across the board, everyone just loves this game so much. We just love working together and making each other better, and that starts in practice.”

In her last game in Chapel Hill, senior attacker Darcy Felter opened the scoring less than four minutes in, giving the Tar Heels a lead they wouldn’t surrender over the final 55 minutes.

North Carolina used the early momentum to grab a 3-0 lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the opening frame.

As Stanford mounted its comeback following the Tar Heels’ fast start, it was goalkeeper Lucy Pearson who made the valiant effort possible.

Pearson followed up her Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division I National Defensive Player of the Week honor with six saves in the opening half, keeping the Cardinal within striking distance amid the offensive pressure from the Tar Heels. She finished with nine saves and a .391 save percentage.

In the loss, four different Stanford players tallied two goals, while Martha Oakey led the Cardinal with three points (2G, 1A).

Stanford wraps up the 2026 season with a program-record 17 wins, having reached the ACC championship game and NCAA Tournament quarterfinals for the first time.

While North Carolina’s goal was to punch its ticket to the national semifinals in Evanston, Ill., it was a city 1,200 miles away that provided the mentality necessary to get there.

“I was listening to something about the Spurs today and Gregg Popovich with what he has done in San Antonio,” UNC head coach Jenny Levy said. “The culture, standards and excellence are about people and bringing the right people into Chapel Hill to wear our uniform [and be] hardworking, passionate and great teammates.”

Levy, the only head coach the Tar Heels have known, has established a winning culture throughout her 31 years at the helm in Chapel Hill. Building the program from scratch in 1994, Levy has guided North Carolina to 47 NCAA tournament wins, 28 NCAA tournament appearances, 15 national semifinals and four NCAA championships.

As the Tar Heels’ first NCAA tournament berth came in 1997, she will now look to replicate what another North Carolina legend, Michael Jordan, did in the same city that year by winning back-to-back national titles.