How Does a Team Go from Battling Injuries to Battling for a Championship — and Winning It? UNC Women’s Lacrosse Did Just That.

After an undefeated season, the Tar Heels win the national title

After an undefeated season, the No. 1 Carolina Tar Heels secured their fourth national title with a 12-8 win over No. 3 Northwestern. It was clear from the start of the season that this UNC team was a national title contender, beating many teams by 10 or more goals. But that was not the story of this team last season.

The injury bug of 2024

The 2024 season for the Tar Heels was one riddled with injuries. UNC went 10-7 and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Chloe Humphrey missed the entire 2023 season due to a stress fraction in her foot. Brooklyn Walker-Welch, Marissa White, and Kaleigh Harden were also injured that season. Battling through all those injuries cost the Tar Heels their shot at a deep postseason run.

UNC rebounded from the previous season’s struggles and transformed into a championship team in just one year. Coach Levy said that after last season, they knew what they wanted to do going into the fall.

“We’re very focused on keeping things simple and playing to our strengths. And we started building that last season,” said Coach Levy. “A really big style change for us on the defensive side and a style change in the midfield. Just knowing our personnel and what they naturally wanted to do. And we highlighted that.”

2025 powerhouse

Redshirt freshman Chloe Humphrey returned to the field and scored three goals in her first game back against James Madison. Humphrey closed the season with a hat trick or more in 18 of 22 games, finishing with 90 goals and 118 points.

“It’s just so fun to just see everyone and what they went through, and now just having fun out there, and we can call ourselves national champions,” said Humphrey.

Those goals came from the Humphrey sister duo. Graduate student Ashley Humphrey had four assists in the national championship and closed the season with 90 assists. This scoring and feeding tandem helped propel the Tar Heels to the national title.

“We did it, so it all made it worth it,” said Ashley Humphrey on last season’s struggles. “It definitely took a lot of sacrifices, a lot of injuries, a lot of comebacks, but it’s something that no one can ever take away from us.”

Brooklyn Walker-Welch’s return and presence on the defensive end was felt. She was quick to help on slides and effective at tracking cutters from the goal line extended to the top of the 8-meter. The leadership of captain Walker-Welch was key to the defense’s success.

So was goalie Betty Nelson. The redshirt freshman stepped up in a big way this season. Nelson had eight saves and allowed eight goals in the national title game and also posted eight saves in the ACC championship win. She finished the season with a 49.6 save percentage and credited her success to her defense’s ability to force specific shots.

“What I do is not without my defense; my saves come from them giving me the shots that I want to see,” said Nelson. “Whatever they do on the field is pivotal for my job.”

The dominance of this team came from a variety of factors. One was the sheer volume of shots UNC generated, averaging 36 shots per game and 22 on cage. The national championship game was no different: the Tar Heels put up 35 shots with 29 on goal while controlling the pace of the game.
They also controlled the draw late to seal the deal, winning eight of 10 draws in the fourth quarter.

All of the success this season wasn’t possible without learning to bounce back from the struggles of last season, leading to an undefeated run and a national championship trophy.

GALLERY: Orange Crushed by Seawolves in Physical Back and Forth Affair

No. 5 Syracuse Falls to No. 12 Stony Brook After Ellie Masera Nets Game Winner in Overtime

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In a thrilling back and forth matchup, the Seawolves pulled off the upset.

Although Maddy Baxter forced overtime with 10 seconds left, the Orange suffered its second overtime loss this season, as No. 12 Stony Brook defeated No. 5 Syracuse 13-12.

Ellie Masera scored the game-winning goal and for the second time in program history, the Seawolves beat the Orange.

Neither team led by more than two goals in this contest and although the Seawolves trailed by two with 7:23 left, Stony Brook head coach Joe Spallina believed his team would be resilient.

“We showed characteristics of a top team,” Spallina said. “We have a senior group, and when we have a senior group, it’s a player driven model that we have. We told them coming in, ‘They’re going to make plays, it’s not going to be perfect. You’ve got to be able to answer a punch with a punch.’”

After Stony Brook killed off two early penalties, Masera struck first off the rebound after a save by Delaney Sweitzer on the free position shot. With Morgan Mitchell adding another goal off a cut, the Seawolves took the early 2-0 lead.

Syracuse would immediately respond, as Baxter won the ensuing draw and dished it to Emma Ward for her first goal of the match. 

Following Kailyn Hart’s shorthanded free position goal and Olivia Adamson’s quick score, Stony Brook was up 3-2 to end the first quarter.

The Orange tied the game in the second period, as Adamson netted her second goal of the game on the free position shot.

Stony Brook would retake the lead with Masera, but only for a short time. On the following free position attempt for Syracuse, Ward passed the ball to Savannah Sweitzer for her first goal of the game. Seven of Syracuse’s 12 goals were assisted.

For the next 8:48 of play, neither team could score. After a Delaney Sweitzer save, the Seawolves missed three shots in a row and the Orange couldn’t take advantage. 

“It’s an unfortunate loss because I really don’t think we played to our potential tonight,” head coach Kayla Treanor said. “I feel like we gave them a lot of gifts in this game.”

Going into halftime, Stony Brook led 5-4, but Syracuse would score three-straight goals to start the third quarter.

Emma Tyrrell tallied her first of three goals in the contest after a quiet first half. Meghan Rode gave the Orange its first lead on a power play where Syracuse was 0-5 up until that point. Savannah Sweitzer capped off the run with a behind-the-back goal to extend the Orange lead 7-5.

The Seawolves followed that up with a 3-0 run of its own with two goals from Hart and one from Jaden Hampel. Alex Finn assisted both of Hart’s goals in the third quarter and overall, nine of Stony Brook’s 13 goals were assisted.

“I was able to get open on the cut and having Alex Finn as a great feeder now,” Hart said. “Everyone was just helping out and really taking apart their defense.”

Tied at 8-8 to begin the fourth, Hart and Finn connected once again to give Stony Brook the lead back. However, Syracuse would respond with three consecutive free position goals in 1:59.

With a chance to extend the Orange lead to three, Natalie Smith attempted a free position shot that was saved by Emily Manning. Tyrrell picked up the ball and Baxter got an opportunity, but she was also stoned by Manning. Manning made four saves on the night, while Delaney Sweitzer made nine saves.

Facing a two goal deficit, Stony Brook was running out time. With 5:32 left, Finn fed Charlotte Verhulst for a score. Hart tallied a free position goal and after looking for a cutter from the X, Finn dished it off to Masera as the Seawolves led 12-11 with 1:08 remaining.

Katelyn Mashewske would win the ensuing draw and Tyrrell passed the ball to Baxter as she scored with 10 seconds left to force overtime.

While Baxter was Syracuse’s hero for the moment, Treanor believed the Orange needed to do a better job of netting open shots.

“We shouldn’t have to make a miraculous play with 10 seconds left,” Treanor said. “We’ve got to be able to finish when we’re open.”

The Orange had trouble consistently scoring against Stony Brook’s zone defense. Avery Hines was confident in her team’s ability to get the win.

“I practiced against better girls every single day,” Hines said. “Today, I came in with a lot of confidence knowing that we were going to perform. We practiced a lot; we prepared like we needed to and I think we all really showed up today.”

To open the extra period, the draw control seemed to be initially won by the Orange. However, Masera took the ball away from Mashewske and the Seawolves controlled the first possession of overtime.

While running towards the goal, Baxter tripped Masera from behind to give Stony Brook a woman-up opportunity.

Syracuse killed the penalty off but the Seawolves still maintained control. With the shot clock winding down, Mitchell found Masera wrapping around the cage. While running to her right, Masera fell to one knee and slinged the shot into the bottom left corner of the cage. 

In a tightly-contested game, the Seawolves walked out of the JMA Wireless Dome with what coach Spallina called a “season-defining win.” 

This is the second overtime loss for the Orange this season, as the team lost to Maryland back on Feb. 17.

At 3-3, Syracuse will play Virginia Tech on the road in Blacksburg. The opening draw is set for 12 p.m.

“The Best is Yet To Come”

Monday night, February 24th, 2020. Before the COVID-19 pandemic was in sight, the Colgate Women’s Lacrosse team traveled from Hamilton, New York to the Syracuse University Carrier Dome to face the number four ranked Orange Women’s Lacrosse team. 

The undefeated Colgate Raiders were excited for the test, according to senior goalie and team captain Samantha Croston. “When I found out we were playing Syracuse, I was hyped up,” said Croston. “I was excited to play harder competition than what we were used to.”

The dominant attack of the Orange were as advertised. Megan Carney, Sam Swart, and Emily Hawryschuk were too talented to handle as each scored hat tricks in the convincing 21-4 win over Colgate. Little did Raider goalie Samantha Croston know, this would not be her last time in the Carrier Dome.

Fast forward four months, Croston began her journey at Syracuse University in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications earning her Master’s Degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism. A former division one student athlete handed her helmet and lacrosse stick in for a microphone and camera to document local news and sports stories in Central New York. 

Currently a Professional Multimedia Journalist for CNY Central, Croston is also a sports broadcaster for ESPN+ and ACC Network studio shows as an analyst for women’s lacrosse. It’s a career she takes deep pride in as it was something she didn’t expect.

“I didn’t even know I wanted to be a broadcaster until I applied,” Croston said. With the help of perspective, empathy and love, Croston says she has embraced the role. “People don’t tell you how many tough parts there are about the job, but I am continuing to do what I love,” Croston said.

The chase and pursuit of something greater than yourself, similar to coming together as one like the lacrosse team at Colgate, yet this time in the studio for all of Central New York to see.  

Croston says, continuing to create and establish relationships are what make the world go round which allow the industry to appreciate each other even more. “If you can understand other people, you can understand life,” Croston said.

“The best is yet to come,” montra keeps Croston’s mindset pushing forward following the motto in how she lives her life. Maintaining the positive attitude through long days, continuing the pursuit of her intuition telling her a profession in broadcasting and digital journalism will be successful. 

To the next generation of Master’s Students, Croston says it’s okay if you don’t know what you want to do. “You need to be willing to sit in the uncomfortable of figuring that out,” Croston said. “Whether that’s redefining yourself from an athlete to a broadcaster, focus on you and be okay sitting in the uncomfortable of figuring out who you want to be.”

Syracuse women’s lacrosse goes 13-0

The land’s no. 1 team remains unbeaten. The Orange won their 13th straight game, matching their longest winning streak since 2013.

It was the second-most goals the Orange had scored all season, beating no. 11 Virginia 21-9.

Virginia would get on the board first with a goal from Ashlyn McGoverm, but Syracuse would answer one minute later with a Meaghan Tyrrell goal, assisted by Emma Ward.

Emma Tyrrell followed with her first of the night before Virginia’s Rachel Clark tied it.

Ward scored the first of her four goals to retake the lead, but Clark had another answer for it.

The Cavaliers would take the lead back when Mackenzie Hoeg found Morgan Schwab. Then, two goals from Olivia Adamson and Emma Tyrrell within the last minute of the first quarter gave the Orange the lead, and they ran with it.

Maddy Baxter, Sierra Cockerille, Meaghan Tyrrell, Megan Carney and Ward all scored in the second quarter making it 12-6 heading into the half.

The Orange went 10-of-13 from the draw thanks to Katie Goodale and Olivia Adamson, who combined for 13 draw controls to give Syracuse a 21-11 edge in the draw circle.

Virginia would only score three more goals, one of those being from McGovern, who had a hat trick on the day, to the Orange’s nine in the second half.

It’s the seventh time this season that Syracuse has held their opponents to less than 10 goals and the third time they have scored 20 or more goals.

Ward had a career high 10 points with four goals and six assists, while Meaghan Tyrrell was one point shy of her with three assists, tying her own season high of six goals.

Their perfect record will be tested again this coming Saturday when the Orange host no. 22 Clemson at 2 p.m. at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Morgan Alexander – What Comes Next

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Morgan Alexander is a Newhouse graduate student, now into her fifth year on the Syracuse University women’s lacrosse team. She clutches Drew Brees’ memoir titled, ‘Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity.’

One of Brees’ most famous quotes says, “Anyone can see the adversity in a difficult situation, but it takes a stronger person to see the opportunity.”

These words come from a man who knows a thing or two about sports and how to overcome injuries caused by the same.

To Alexander, the book makes a lot of sense when a person glances beyond the book in her hands. After tearing her ACL, her lacrosse season abruptly ended – forcing her out with the long-term injury. However, her outlook on the situation is one that could have come straight from the pages of Brees’ himself.

“I’m blessed,” said Alexander, after watching her team practice. “I have great coaches, great teammates, great parents, great friends, great everything and for every non-blessing like this ACL I have four or five blessings to count as well.”

Her current injury joins a list of previous injuries that kept Alexander out of the game she loves for considerable periods of time. Now, she has a decision to make: return to the team for a sixth year, or end her college playing career atop this injury.

“I’m not done, I don’t have to be done if I don’t want to be,” Alexander said. “I am going to rehab this and be fine.”

Her focus now shifts to rehab, but like her idol Drew Brees, Alexander aims to be a leader on and off the pitch – injured or not. Her new goal is to take on a new role.

“I just need to be a leader,” Alexander said. “It’s one thing to be a leader when everything is going your way, but it’s hard when people are playing and you are not getting to. I just need to be there for my teammates and try to help them get better.”

Team dynamics can be tricky to navigate and finding your place in the team can take years for some, but for others it’s just a matter of being there.

“Whether you are the first one off the bench, a starter, or you don’t play you are still all in,” she said.

While this is her first ever torn ACL injury, Alexander has suffered several knee-related injuries in the past over her playing career at Syracuse University and her teammates have suffered with her all along the way.

“The number one word is heartbreaking,” Alexander said. “It’s a little different this time because I rehabbed really hard and came back a better player than I think I was before which is almost unheard of. I played the first four games and in one split moment you feel like you got everything ripped out of you. My teammates were in shock but they were so supportive and I couldn’t ask for a better support system than I have with this team.”

Alexander is also fortunate to be able to call on her degree at Newhouse as a backup plan if lacrosse doesn’t work out the way she wants.

“I talked with my Professor at Newhouse about this,” Alexander said. “He told me that Newhouse isn’t a backup plan, for most people it is the plan so to have that as your major, which is in itself hard to do, so I am extremely blessed.”

As for the future, a sixth year seems imminent at the moment, but Alexander has more than just one skill up her sleeve.

“I want to be a sports broadcaster or sideline reporter and I think I would be good at that,” Alexander said. “I hope that everything I have gone through can translate into broadcasting and I can become a sideline reporter in the future, that is my goal.”