Annually, the Maryland-North Carolina game is the premier contest of the regular season. All-Americans are featured in all portions of the field, and if history is any indication, execution in the crease will be a vital component to victory.

Last year’s electrifying 16-15 overtime game featured 31 goals, but just 13 saves. Seven of those saves came from UNC’s Taylor Moreno, who entered with the Tar Heels trailing 7-3. Her counterpart, Megan Taylor, is 2-2 all-time against North Carolina. How the goalies go have significant influence on how the game goes.

In Taylor’s previous four appearances, when she’s saved at least as many shots and goals allowed, her Terrapins win. Nevertheless, when the Tar Heels have been able to gain the advantage, the results are stark. In those two victories, North Carolina has potted 29 goals, while Taylor has posted 12 saves, whereas in two losses, Taylor has 18 saves against 17 goals allowed. 

NO. 3 NORTH CAROLINA AT NO. 2 MARYLAND
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 24, 12 p.m.
WATCH: Big Ten Network

The offensive firepower in front of each keeper will be intense. Both teams have primary threats that will give the defense matchup issues. 

For Maryland, it’s Jen Giles (9 goals, 2 assists), Kali Hartshorn (7G, 11 draw controls) and Caroline Steele (7G). Conversely, it’s Katie Hoeg (5G, 14A) and Jamie Ortega (15G, 3a]A) for the Tar Heels.

Collectively on offense, there are three IWLCA All-Americans (Giles, 1st team, Hoeg, 1st team, Steele, 2nd team), while Ortega is looking to back up her chart-busting freshman campaign (86 points). How the goalies are able to keep these prolific scorers at bay will loom large. 

Other games highlighting the weekend include:

• No. 5 Stony Brook at No. 15 Colorado
  Friday, 5 p.m. (ET), Pac-12 Plus
  
  Stony Brook finally plays this weekend for a two-game set in Colorado against the 15th-ranked Buffaloes and 12th-ranked Denver. There are many questions of how this year’s Seawolves will look now that Courtney Murphy and Kylie Olhmiller have graduated. Additionally, Taryn Olymiller is back after an ACL tear in the NCAA tournament. This year’s team will rely heavily on Keri McCarthy and Ally Kennedy in the draw circle, while Ohlmiller and Kennedy will be expected to carry the offensive load. Colorado carries momentum with an emphatic 17-6 win over Virginia Tech last week.

• No. 7 Northwestern at No. 8 Syracuse
  Sunday, 12 p.m. (ET), ACC Network Extra
  
  Dozens of goals will be scored in the Carrier Dome on Sunday. Northwestern’s hot offense is averaging 21 goals per game in its first three contests even without the services of Selena Lasota for most of the last two games. Whether she plays on Sunday will be a key storyline. Syracuse is looking to take down a top 10 foe after dropping a tough two-goal loss to top-ranked Boston College after staking a five-goal lead. 

More Games On Our Radar

All times are listed in ET. For a full list of broadcast games, please visit our US Lacrosse TV listing page.

FRIDAY, FEB. 22

3 p.m.

No. 14 Notre Dame at Ohio State (BTN Plus)

4 p.m.

USC at San Diego State (YouTube)

SATURDAY, FEB. 23

12 p.m.

No. 4 Florida at No. 20 Loyola (Patriot League Network)

1 p.m.

Harvard at No. 1 Boston College
No. 6 Penn at No. 16 Johns Hopkins (Johns Hopkins)
High Point at No. 9 James Madison (Facebook Live)
No. 10 Princeton at No. 13 Virginia (ACC Network Extra)
No. 11 Penn State at Cornell (ESPN+)
Virginia Tech at No. 18 Duke (ACC Network Extra)

3 p.m.

Drexel at No. 17 Georgetown (HoyaVision)
Towson at Navy (Patriot League Network)

SUNDAY, FEB. 24

12 p.m.

No. 5 Stony Brook at No. 12 Denver (Pioneers All-Access)

2 p.m.

Michigan at No. 15 Colorado (Pac-12 Plus)

4 p.m.

UC Davis at No. 19 Stanford (Pac-12 Plus)