Liddell Strikes in Fourth, ’Cuse Falls at UNC

Sunday, October 18

Chapel Hill, N.C.

2 p.m.

Syracuse University

(7-5, 2-3)

North Carolina

(9-5, 5-1)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Syracuse	0	0	0	1	1
North Carolina	0	1	0	1	2

Highlights

10/18/2026 3:59:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

No. 13 Syracuse University field hockey leveled the game 1-1 early in the fourth quarter, but a No. 10 North Carolina corner strike put the Tar Heels ahead for a 2-1 final Sunday afternoon at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill.

Syracuse (7-5, 2-3 ACC) got its goal from Jess Liddell, her third of the season, on a fourth-quarter penalty corner with Sammie Goin and Aubrey Turner picking up assists. The Orange appeared to take a lead in the 24th minute on a Turner goal, but the score was wiped off the board following an official review. Jessie Eiselin played all 60 minutes in goal and made three saves.

North Carolina (9-5, 5-1 ACC) got goals from Ella Barbacci and Bruder. Barbacci finished with a goal and an assist, while Jenna Narleski and Dani Mendez each added an assist. Merritt Skubisz went the distance in the Tar Heel cage, making three saves.

How it Happened

Syracuse controlled the early going, earning the first two penalty corners of the game. Liddell's shot on the first corner in the 11th minute was blocked, and Hattie Madden's attempt off a corner inserted by Bo Madden was turned aside by Skubisz in the 14th minute.
The Orange defense held North Carolina to one shot in the first quarter, a wide attempt by Ryleigh Heck in the ninth minute.
Eiselin made her first save of the afternoon in the 20th minute, stopping a Reese Anetsberger shot.
In the 24th minute, Turner found the back of the cage for what would have been a 1-0 Syracuse lead, but the goal was overturned after an official review.
Less than two minutes later, North Carolina struck first. Barbacci scored in the 26th minute off a feed from Narleski, her fifth goal of the year, and the Tar Heels carried a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Orange came out firing in the third quarter as Belle van de Pas and Grace Anne McCooey got shots on goal in quick succession in the 32nd minute, but Skubisz denied both.
North Carolina mounted a flurry in the 42nd minute. Shots from Hope Haynes and Anetsberger were blocked before Eiselin stopped a Mendez attempt to keep the deficit at one.
Syracuse drew even early in the fourth quarter. Syracuse earned back-to-back penalty corners in the 47th minute with Turner inserting. Liddell's first attempt was blocked but she converted right down the middle on the second chance with Goin and Turner assisting to tie the game 1-1.
Eiselin kept things level with a save on Bruder in the 54th minute, but the Tar Heels went back in front two minutes later. Mendez earned a penalty corner, and Bruder finished it in the 56th minute with Barbacci and Mendez credited with assists.
North Carolina earned one more corner in the 57th minute, but Coco Courtright's shot went wide. Syracuse could not generate another shot in the final minutes.

By the Numbers

North Carolina held a 10-6 edge in shots and a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Both teams earned four penalty corners, with each side converting one.
Eiselin and Skubisz each finished with three saves.
Syracuse earned both of its first-quarter penalty corners and both of its fourth-quarter corners, but none in the middle two periods.
The Tar Heels outshot the Orange 4-2 in the fourth quarter.

Up Next for Syracuse

The Orange return to J.S. Coyne Stadium to close the regular season, beginning with a visit from Stanford on Friday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.
Syracuse then hosts California for a noon first push on Sunday, Oct. 25 for a nationally televised game on ACC Network.
The regular season wraps up at home against Boston College on Friday, Oct. 30 at 4:30 p.m. Admission to all games at J.S. Coyne Stadium is free.