All eight national seeds are advancing to the NCAA Division I women’s quarterfinals — an unsurprising result that might come as somewhat of a shock considering the parity that defined the 2022 season.
And even though there were several games that came down to the final minutes, there wasn’t a ton of drama in the second round of the tournament on Sunday. No game was decided by fewer than three goals, and there were three blowouts sprinkled into the eight-game slate.
Perhaps the two most notable highlights from Sunday will be ones that we remember far beyond this season.
Charlotte North became the NCAA Division I women’s career goals leader, passing Courtney Murphy (Stony Brook, 2014-18), and now has 345 goals — and counting, thanks to BC’s win over Denver.
Also Sunday, Princeton and the lacrosse world experienced the final game with Chris Sailer patrolling the sidelines. The Tigers’ loss to Syracuse means the end of the line for Sailer, who coached 36 seasons at Princeton. Because of a scheduling quirk, Princeton — which was not seeded — got to host its pod. Sailer was given a hero’s farewell at Class of 1952 Stadium as one an icon in the sport’s history.
Let’s dive into everything else that happened in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
SECOND-ROUND SCORES
(1) North Carolina 24, Virginia 2 | Recap
(2) Maryland 19, Duke 6 | Recap
(3) Boston College 13, Denver 8 | Recap
(4) Northwestern 15, Michigan 12 | Recap
(5) Syracuse 13, Princeton 9 | Recap
(6) Loyola 18, James Madison 8 | Recap
(7) Florida 15, Jacksonville 10 | Recap
(8) Stony Brook 11, Rutgers 7 | Recap
QUARTERFINALS
THURSDAY, MAY 19
Higher seeds host.
(1) North Carolina vs. (8) Stony Brook, 7:30 p.m.
(2) Maryland vs. (7) Florida, 12 p.m.
(3) Boston College vs. (6) Loyola, 2:30 p.m.
(4) Northwestern vs. (5) Syracuse, 5 p.m.
NORTH CAROLINA THUMPS VIRGINIA
North Carolina had eight days off since winning its sixth straight ACC women's lacrosse championship. The top-seeded Tar Heels showed no signs of rust, however, defeating Virginia 24-2 in the second round of the NCAA tournament Sunday in Chapel Hill.
MARYLAND DOMINATES POSSESSION, DUKE
Shaylan Ahearn controlled nine draws and scored twice, and Libby May scored five goals with one assist, though it was truly a complete effort in second-seeded Maryland’s 19-6 win over the Blue Devils, who knocked Maryland out of the NCAA tournament in the second round a year ago.
NORTH LIFTS BC OVER STOUT DENVER DEFENSE
Charlotte North needed one goal for history. She got it out of the way quickly. Then it was business as usual for Boston College in a 13-8 win.
EARLY RUN ENOUGH TO LIFT NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern scored the first five goals of the afternoon, two each from Lauren Gilbert and Jill Girardi and another off the stick of Brennan Dwyer. Northwestern led 7-1 with 7:04 left in the first half after Elle Hansen scored.
But Michigan fought back to make it close in what became a 15-12 Wildcats win.
SYRACUSE ENDS PRINCETON’S RUN
Chris Sailer was coaching in her 27th NCAA tournament. It’s Kayla Treanor’s first as a head coach. On Sunday, youth won out as fifth-seeded Syracuse defeated Princeton 13-9 in a second-round game at Class of 1952 Stadium.
ROSENZWEIG, FIEDLER LEAD LOYOLA
Livy Rosenzweig and Sam Fiedler tallied six points apiece to lead sixth-seeded Loyola to an 18-8 rout of James Madison in an NCAA tournament second-round game at Ridley Athletic Complex.
GATORS CHOMP DOLPHINS
In the second round of the NCAA tournament, the Gators leaned on a player whose star has shined brighter this season. Sophomore attacker Danielle Pavinelli scored five goals — bringing her total to 15 in the past three games — as the Gators never trailed in a 15-10 win over the Dolphins.
CHARLIE CAMPBELL DENIES RUTGERS
Charlie Campbell wanted to return to her roots. Campbell wanted to come home, which is why she transferred to Stony Brook as a graduate student.
Campbell was a brick wall, making 12 saves to help secure the Seawolves’ 11-7 win over Rutgers at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium.