No. 3-seed Maryland women’s lacrosse has posted one of the best records in collegiate lacrosse this season and earned a trip to Evanston, Illinois. However, head coach Cathy Reese believes there’s still room for improvement.
“We have not played a perfect game,” Reese said after Maryland’s 14-10 quarterfinal win over Navy. “I mean, sometimes we don’t even play two good quarters.”
With the Terps having captured their NCAA Tournament semifinal bid — a feat they hadn’t achieved in four years — they will
have to put together two nearly-spotless performances against the nation’s premier programs if they want to win a title.
That journey begins Friday against No. 2-seed North Carolina. The former ACC foes haven’t faced off since 2020, but Maryland will look to down one of the most loaded teams in the last decade.
Friday’s semifinal bout will take place at Martin Stadium at 3 p.m., airing on ESPNU.
North Carolina Tar Heels (18-1, 10-0 Atlantic Coast Conference)
One of the longest-reigning head coaches in collegiate lacrosse, Jenny Levy has spent the last 31 years building the North Carolina women’s lacrosse program from scratch. Levy is the only coach in team history, but she stands as the second-winningist woken’s lacrosse coach of all time and has led the Tar Heels to eight ACC titles.
North Carolina captured its fourth national title in 2025, capping off a perfect 22-0 season, and were an overtime goal away from going undefeated through championship weekend again this season. The Tar Heels were spearheaded by a young, high-powered core, many of whom remain on the team heading into the semifinals.
Players to watch
Chloe Humphrey, sophomore attacker, No. 2 — Coming off a freshman campaign that earned her the 2025 Tewaaraton Award, the attacker has remained one of the best players to grace the field in recent memory. Humphrey leads the nation with 5.37 goals per game and 148 points, but she also boasts a team-high 21 caused turnovers and 46 assists. The Terps will have their hands full against North Carolina’s star — Maryland gave up six goals to Navy’s lead attacker, Alyssa Chung, in their quarterfinal bout.
Addison Patillo, sophomore attacker, No. 16 — Backing up one of the country’s most prolific attackers is a unique task, but Patillo has settled into her role with ease. The sophomore has logged 69 points in 2026 — including 59 goals — despite serving in a supporting role. Patillo also displays some of the best stickwork on North Carolina’s roster, with her 19 turnovers the fewest among the starting attackers.
Eliza Osburn, sophomore midfielder, No. 13 — Rounding out a stout sophomore class, Osburn has been a balanced asset for the Tar Heels in the midfield. Osburn has notched 48 points this season while also delivering 39 draw controls, 24 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers as North Carolina’s primary workhorse.
Strength
Possession dominance. Much of the Tar Heels’ ability to take over offensively comes from its innate ability to claim and maintain possession. North Carolina leads the ACC with 16.2 draw controls per game while causing a respectable 9.8 turnovers per game. The Tar Heels also commit the fewest turnovers per game in the conference (12.1), allowing them to take advantage of key opportunities. A +196 goal differential highlights how good they are at it.
Weakness
Goalkeeping consistency. With such a deep lineup, Levy has struggled to gain trust in her starting goalkeeper, sophomore Betty Nelson. The netminder has been subbed out 15 times this season, including in crucial late-game scenarios against difficult opponents — such as the overtime loss to Northwestern. Nelson’s 40.6% save percentage leaves much to be desired, and she could struggle against a deep Maryland attack.
Three things to watch
1. Reese’s defensive gameplan. Despite having moderate success at locking down top attackers throughout the regular season, Maryland’s defense may be in need of a hard reset after Chung’s dominance. While the Terps are unlikely to deviate from their standard man-to-man concept, Reese may consider alterations in individual positioning in an attempt to limit Humphrey’s fiery shooting.
2. Individual standout or team synergy? While individual breakout performances have often highlighted Maryland’s season, the offensive depth has carried it through the bulk of the national tournament. Lauren LaPointe — who scored a career-high seven goals in a win over Johns Hopkins — said she takes pride in the offense’s ability to share the ball.
“I love that we can really rely on anyone on the field,” LaPointe said. “There’s no one that’s on the field that doesn’t have a specific role or an important role on the field.”
3. Fresh legs. With eight days between the quarterfinals and semifinals, Maryland will hope to be in peak physical form before Friday’s contest. The Terps have gone 4-0 this season in games coming off at least seven days of rest and will look to keep it rolling in a win-or-go-home matchup.
