The North Carolina men's lacrosse team is gearing up for a challenging weekend as they head north for the ACC/Ivy Challenge. Ranked second in the nation, the Tar Heels will face off against No.
19 Penn on Friday and No. 10 Princeton on Sunday.
Gameday Details
- Penn Matchup Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 27 at 5 PM Location: Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pa. Watch: ESPN+
- Princeton Matchup Date/Time: Sunday, March 1 at Noon Location: Sherrerd Field at Class of 1952 Stadium, Princeton, N.J. Watch: ESPN+
Recap of the Johns Hopkins Game
The Tar Heels recently showcased their offensive prowess with a commanding 17-9 victory over No. 14 Johns Hopkins.
Dominic Pietramala and Owen Duffy were unstoppable, combining for nine goals. This win pushed North Carolina to a 4-0 record, marking their first ranked victory of the season.
Josh Marcus was a wall in the net with a career-high 12 saves, while Brady Wambach dominated the faceoff X, going 20-29 and scooping up 13 ground balls. Impressively, Carolina is now 17-0 when holding opponents to single-digit goals over the past three seasons.
What a Win Over Penn Would Mean
A victory against Penn would be significant for several reasons. It would mark Carolina's 11th win over the Quakers and their first in Philadelphia since 1991.
Additionally, it would push the Tar Heels to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2021 and secure their second ranked win of the 2026 season. For Coach Breschi, it would be his 266th career win and 174th with the Tar Heels.
Climbing Back to the Top
This week, the Tar Heels have reclaimed the top spot in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, receiving nine first-place votes. This is their first No. 1 ranking in the media poll since March 2021. In the USILA Coaches Poll, they are ranked No. 2, marking their first top-three appearance since May 2021.
Facing the Ivy League
Starting Friday, North Carolina will embark on a historic stretch, facing three consecutive Ivy League teams for the first time:
- Friday, Feb. 27 at Penn
- Sunday, March 1 at Princeton
- Saturday, March 7 vs. Brown
Under Coach Breschi, the Tar Heels boast an 11-3 record against these Ivy League foes.
Brady Wambach's Dominance at the Faceoff
Brady Wambach continues to shine as a faceoff specialist, ranking fifth among active Division I players with 437 faceoff wins. His career numbers are impressive:
- 2024: 146 faceoff wins
- 2025: 225 faceoff wins
- 2026: 66 faceoff wins so far
With these matchups on the horizon, the Tar Heels are poised to make a significant statement in the lacrosse world. Keep an eye on their performance as they aim to maintain their dominant start to the season.