boy..the idea of a faster and better Eliza Osburn is absolutely terrifying
UNC Women’s Lacrosse 2025-2026
- Thread starter airball
- Start date
I know Chloe has to be tired some. She needs to take a break and let her body rest. She has been playing all summer. I am sure that fatigue has settled in a little bit. If I was Jeni, I would let her rest the next time we play for that weekend, and the let the other freshman play. We know what Chloe is going to bring. I just do not want her to burn out.
I wonder where their money is coming from. 12 million is a lot for lacrosse. My question is, Do they have as many teams as we do? If not then they can allocated money over that way. I think we have 28 teams. Does anyone know exactly how many teams FSU has?
We spent:
- $18.5 Million on Chewning Tennis Center
- $37.8 Million for Dorrance Field (includes lacrosse)
- $15.2 Million for Karen Shelton Stadium
This is on par with Clemson, who added Gymnastics and Lacrosse, plus upgraded rowing significantly. They call this total project their lakefront facilities and the total tag is $37.5 Million. Ironically, Clemson was publicly floating the idea of cutting sports during COVID, ringing the alarm bells for new money. Then less than a year later, they added gymnastics and lacrosse, and then soon announced this: https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-breaks-ground-on-new-athletic-facilities/
My guess is that Clemson was looking at a Title IX violation and chose adding women's sports over cutting men's sports. To their credit, they are sinking real money into being successful in these new endeavors.
Clemson and FSU both now have 21 varsity sports (M&W Indoor T&F, outdoor T&F and CC all counted separately). We have 28. Clemson does everything we do minus Men's LAX, M&W swimming, M&W Fencing, wrestling, and field hockey for Clemson. FSU has beach volleyball, but no Men's LAX, M&W Fencing, M Soccer, wrestling, gymnastics, rowing, nor Field Hockey.
There has been major growth in women's D1 Lacrosse, with many teams added the last two decades, but very few men's teams. As a result, most of these new facilities are women's LAX only: just one set of lines on the field. My bet is that SMU pulls the trigger next; they already have a beautiful facility on campus, built for the rich Pony Bro's on their men's club team.
If you want to see a remarkable outlay for Women's lacrosse, the ultimate example is Ryan Fieldhouse at Northwestern, Granted, it is shared by Football (practice), M&W swimming, M&W soccer, and W lacrosse, but if cost $270 Million for the domed field, part of a larger Walter Atletics Center project (where the aquatics is, plus nutrition and training facilities. The Ryan family paid for a majority of it.
Opinion: Wait before judging money spent on Ryan Fieldhouse, Welsh-Ryan Arena
Football If you believe Northwestern was inherently and automatically misguided when deciding to spent $380 million on new athletic facilities — $270 million to build the Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center, and $110 million to renovate Welsh-Ryan Arena — then this column isn’t for you...
dailynorthwestern.com
And they are paying for a majority of the new approx $860 Million domed stadium for football that will seat $35K. https://rebuildryanfield.com/ the Ryan Family paid for $460 Million of that, in addition to previous gifts (They were already the largest benefactor to NW before that gift, and the basketball arena is called Welsh-Ryan Arena.)
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Hey Nate, the 2026 lacrosse roster is posted on Goheels.com
goheels.com
The roster includes biographical info on all new players (12) added to the roster. I don’t believe that this has been the case in prior years, which probably explains the delay in publishing the roster.
2026 Women's Lacrosse Roster - University of North Carolina Athletics
The official 2026 Women's Lacrosse Roster for the North Carolina Heels
The roster includes biographical info on all new players (12) added to the roster. I don’t believe that this has been the case in prior years, which probably explains the delay in publishing the roster.
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Newcomers bolded in italics
Goalies (3)
33 Brigid Carovillano, FR
47 Lexie Zenk, SO
88 Betty Nelson, SO
Defenders (8)
8 Sam Forrest, GR
12 Audrey Hurleman, FR
22 Ellie Traggio, JR
25 Paige Kelly, JR
28 Molly Longfield, SR
30 Ella Cabrera, SR
45 Brooklyn Walker-Welch, GR
55 Sophie Straka, GR (Yale)
Midfielders (16)
1 Haley Carver, SO
3 Kiley Mottice, SR
6 Charlotte Rathjen, FR
7 Mairyn Dwyer, FR
9 Payton Magday, FR
10 Charlotte Corkins, SO
11 Darcy Felter, SR
13 Kate Levy, SO
14 Gabby Lauretani, FR
15 Eliza Osburn, SO
17 Kayleigh Harden, JR
18 Emma Connerty, FR
19 Julia O’Connor, JR
20 Avery Roberts, JR
27 GraceAnn Leonard, SO
77 Negai Nakazawa, SR (Louisville)
Attackers (8)
2 Chloe Humphrey, SO
4 Caroline Godine, SR
5 Tess Calabria, R-FR
16 Addison Pattillo, SO
21 Reese King, FR
23 Eva Ingrilli, SO
24 Grace Winkler, FR
26 Sophia Stoltz, FR
Draw Specialist (1)
39 Sarah Gresham, SR
Freshman 10 (1 Goalie, 1 Defender, 5 Midfielders, 3 Attackers)
R-Freshmen 1 (1 Attacker)
Sophomores 10 (2 Goalies, 5 Midfielders, 3 Attackers)
Juniors 5 (2 Defenders, 3 Midfielders)
Seniors 7 (2 Defenders, 3 Midfielders, 1 Attacker, 1 Draw Specialist)
Graduates 3 (3 Defenders)
12 newcomers join the 2026 team
36 players are on the roster
(Positions and eligibility levels derived from the roster)
Goalies (3)
33 Brigid Carovillano, FR
47 Lexie Zenk, SO
88 Betty Nelson, SO
Defenders (8)
8 Sam Forrest, GR
12 Audrey Hurleman, FR
22 Ellie Traggio, JR
25 Paige Kelly, JR
28 Molly Longfield, SR
30 Ella Cabrera, SR
45 Brooklyn Walker-Welch, GR
55 Sophie Straka, GR (Yale)
Midfielders (16)
1 Haley Carver, SO
3 Kiley Mottice, SR
6 Charlotte Rathjen, FR
7 Mairyn Dwyer, FR
9 Payton Magday, FR
10 Charlotte Corkins, SO
11 Darcy Felter, SR
13 Kate Levy, SO
14 Gabby Lauretani, FR
15 Eliza Osburn, SO
17 Kayleigh Harden, JR
18 Emma Connerty, FR
19 Julia O’Connor, JR
20 Avery Roberts, JR
27 GraceAnn Leonard, SO
77 Negai Nakazawa, SR (Louisville)
Attackers (8)
2 Chloe Humphrey, SO
4 Caroline Godine, SR
5 Tess Calabria, R-FR
16 Addison Pattillo, SO
21 Reese King, FR
23 Eva Ingrilli, SO
24 Grace Winkler, FR
26 Sophia Stoltz, FR
Draw Specialist (1)
39 Sarah Gresham, SR
Freshman 10 (1 Goalie, 1 Defender, 5 Midfielders, 3 Attackers)
R-Freshmen 1 (1 Attacker)
Sophomores 10 (2 Goalies, 5 Midfielders, 3 Attackers)
Juniors 5 (2 Defenders, 3 Midfielders)
Seniors 7 (2 Defenders, 3 Midfielders, 1 Attacker, 1 Draw Specialist)
Graduates 3 (3 Defenders)
12 newcomers join the 2026 team
36 players are on the roster
(Positions and eligibility levels derived from the roster)
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Tomorrow, dook Women’s Invitational Fall Ball — here’s the UNC schedule:
9:00 Winthrop
9:40 Liberty
11:00 Davidson
1:00 Queens
1:40 Playoffs, Round 1
2:05 Playoffs, Round 2
2:30 Semifinals
2:55. Championship
I am thinking about going, but the competition is not very challenging?!? I have to believe that the championship will pit dook vs. the Heels
9:00 Winthrop
9:40 Liberty
11:00 Davidson
1:00 Queens
1:40 Playoffs, Round 1
2:05 Playoffs, Round 2
2:30 Semifinals
2:55. Championship
I am thinking about going, but the competition is not very challenging?!? I have to believe that the championship will pit dook vs. the Heels
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At first glance..a huge and loaded roster. Hard to pick which unit is the strongest between defense, midfield, and attack.
I'd imagine the starters on defense will be Sam, Ellie, and BWW with Straka being the first off the bench. Will also depend on Ellie's health. She suffered a pretty serious injury in the waning moments of the championship game.
Midfield i have Mottice, Harden, Osburn, and Levy. But i expect Corkins to see alot of time as well.
Attack i got CH, Godine, and Pattillo with Calabria and Ingrilli being the first subs.
You can bet on a break out player and i have no idea who it's going to be. too many candidates
From yesterday’s Dook Invitational:
Instagram makes it clear that UNC won the event (I draw this conclusion from the fact that everyone is holding up their index finger in the group photo).
Players who did not dress out: Ellie Traggio, Eva Ingrilli, Emma Connerty (and possibly Sophie Straka)
Based on yesterday’s scrimmages, Charlotte Corkins will be playing defense. On a team of very fast players, she still stands out. She collects a lot of ground balls just by beating players to the ball. She also took a defensive zone ground ball the length of the field for a goal.
Senior Molly Longfield also played a lot of defense as did freshman Audrey Hurleman, who is likely to see a lot of playing time in her UNC career.
Brooklyn Walker-Welch is playing without the hinged knee brace; she looks faster.
Collectively, the freshman class is fast and athletic. As a result, the midfield and attack are much deeper than last year’s team.
UNC’s ride frustrated yesterday’s opponents; however, the opponents were not ACC caliber. Tess Calabria is another aggressive attacker on the ride.
Everyone on the team saw a lot of action; the starters saw more action against better teams (e.g. against Liberty, it looked like a starting lineup).
I watched the three morning scrimmages; unfortunately, the UNC attack was at the other end of the field for all three games so I was unable to really see the offense well. Chloe Humphrey didn’t play extensively. Seems like almost everyone who played scored. Freshman Reese King had a couple of nice goals; I think she will see action this season as a replacement for Olivia Vergano.
The offense moved the ball quickly, but the lack of depth perception prevented me from really appreciating the offense.
Each of the three goalies played the entirety of one ot the three games that I saw (Winthrop, Liberty and Davidson).
Unfortunately I was unable to stay for the afternoon games. I suspect the Heels beat the blue devils for the championship?
Instagram makes it clear that UNC won the event (I draw this conclusion from the fact that everyone is holding up their index finger in the group photo).
Players who did not dress out: Ellie Traggio, Eva Ingrilli, Emma Connerty (and possibly Sophie Straka)
Based on yesterday’s scrimmages, Charlotte Corkins will be playing defense. On a team of very fast players, she still stands out. She collects a lot of ground balls just by beating players to the ball. She also took a defensive zone ground ball the length of the field for a goal.
Senior Molly Longfield also played a lot of defense as did freshman Audrey Hurleman, who is likely to see a lot of playing time in her UNC career.
Brooklyn Walker-Welch is playing without the hinged knee brace; she looks faster.
Collectively, the freshman class is fast and athletic. As a result, the midfield and attack are much deeper than last year’s team.
UNC’s ride frustrated yesterday’s opponents; however, the opponents were not ACC caliber. Tess Calabria is another aggressive attacker on the ride.
Everyone on the team saw a lot of action; the starters saw more action against better teams (e.g. against Liberty, it looked like a starting lineup).
I watched the three morning scrimmages; unfortunately, the UNC attack was at the other end of the field for all three games so I was unable to really see the offense well. Chloe Humphrey didn’t play extensively. Seems like almost everyone who played scored. Freshman Reese King had a couple of nice goals; I think she will see action this season as a replacement for Olivia Vergano.
The offense moved the ball quickly, but the lack of depth perception prevented me from really appreciating the offense.
Each of the three goalies played the entirety of one ot the three games that I saw (Winthrop, Liberty and Davidson).
Unfortunately I was unable to stay for the afternoon games. I suspect the Heels beat the blue devils for the championship?
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Great notes, Air. It’s quite hard to pick up details of who does what in that environment, watching thru the fence from the end of most fields! It’s fine for the kids but terrible for fans/families!
It’s absurdly true I expect that this years team is even deeper than last year’s group
Great notes, Air. It’s quite hard to pick up details of who does what in that environment, watching thru the fence from the end of most fields! It’s fine for the kids but terrible for fans/families!
It’s absurdly true I expect that this years team is even deeper than last year’s group
UNC women’s lacrosse has always been known for its speed, but the current team has raised the ante. Adding Charlotte Corkins to a defense that already has Sam Forrest, BWW, Ellie Traggio (hopefully) and Avery Roberts is a cruelty joke for other teams. (Because I was unable to sort out the offense from 100 yards away, the only overriding impression that I could draw is that this UNC team has exceptional speed and athleticism.)
And when you have the depth to substitute speed with more speed, it really wears down an opponent.
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Thanks for all the wonderful news. As I expected, Charlotte Corkins is going to start. Jenny said last year that she was the fastest on the team. Remember CC was the number two ranked played in the class her junior year before she torn her ACL before her senior year. It takes at least two years to fully recover from this type of injury. Last year, CC was getting herself back into shape. We know that she was not at 100 percent healthy wise last year. and there were some rust for not being able to play her senior year. Now she is completely healthy and we are able to see just how good she is as well as her speed being on display. Go Heels!
Championship rings came in today. it was a party!
Excited kids, even the ones getting g a 2nd one! Amazing team!
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UNC women’s lacrosse signs 10-player class that is ranked #1 in the nation.
goheels.com
Women's Lacrosse - University of North Carolina Athletics
The official Women's Lacrosse page for the North Carolina Heels
Bigelow's younger sister is #2 player in '27 class, already committed.UNC women’s lacrosse signs 10-player class that is ranked #1 in the nation.
Women's Lacrosse - University of North Carolina Athletics
The official Women's Lacrosse page for the North Carolina Heels
Is that picture photoshopped or did they somehow gat all 10 recruits on campus at the same time?!?UNC women’s lacrosse signs 10-player class that is ranked #1 in the nation.
Women's Lacrosse - University of North Carolina Athletics
The official Women's Lacrosse page for the North Carolina Heels
Women's Lacrosse Signs Nation’s Top-Ranked Recruiting Class - University of North Carolina Athletics
The class of three attackers, four midfielders, two defenders and one goalie will arrive on campus for the fall of 2026.
I believe it is a legitimate photo. I saw another photo that showed nine of them with the bell tower in the background. Unfortunately I have not been able to relocate the photo (but I have not been experiencing hallucinations recently). If it’s legit, it would have been taken in the last two months because Leele Bigelow was In the picture — she didn’t switch her commitment to UNC until 9/12/25.
Hopefully the photo that I am talking about re-materializes.
Hopefully the photo that I am talking about re-materializes.
Also, today IL-Women published a ranking of the class of 2026. UNC has 5 x 5-stars (#3, #4, #13, #26 and #29) who are ranked in the top 30 of the class; the new IL ranking has 37 players graded as 5-stars. Four additional UNC recruits are ranked as 4-stars, giving the Heels 9 of the top 100 players in the class of 2026.
Here are the rankings:
Here are the rankings:
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Here is an Inside Lacrosse’s article that ranks signee classes. As previously noted, UNC’s class is ranked #1.
2. Florida
3. Maryland
4. Boston College
5. Virginia
Here is a portion of the UNC write-up:
What to Love: They’ve Done it Again
North Carolina is the gold standard. And it’s not just on who they recruit but also their ability to develop and maximize the best recruits in the nation. This class is no different. It’s heavy on midfielders and should make an impact through the field, coming at a time in which the Heels will graduate an impactful group of defenders. The IQ is notable in this group, which is normally the case in Chapel Hill, but especially true with the ‘26s. It’s telling that the two highest-ranked players in the class are both noted for their IQ.
(FYI - the article says that it lists the Top 100 recruits for each team. Actually the signee lists in the women’s article only provide players in the top 50. UNC has 6 players ranked in the top 50, plus 3 listed but unranked players in the 51-100 range.)
Historically, UNC doesn’t sign players who played defender in high school; UNC defenders have generally been converted midfielders. Interestingly, the 2026 class features two high school defenders — Gaelle Jones and Ashton Kilfoil. I think both have a lot of potential. As the IL writeup points out — UNC loses a strong group of defenders after the 2026 season (Brooklyn Walker-Welch, Sam Forrest, Ellie Traggio).
A UNC defender who was listed in IL’s 51-100 range: Brooklyn Walker-Welch. A UNC defender not ranked in IL’s top 100: Emma Trenchard. As you are aware, both are multiple year All-Americans.
2. Florida
3. Maryland
4. Boston College
5. Virginia
Here is a portion of the UNC write-up:
What to Love: They’ve Done it Again
North Carolina is the gold standard. And it’s not just on who they recruit but also their ability to develop and maximize the best recruits in the nation. This class is no different. It’s heavy on midfielders and should make an impact through the field, coming at a time in which the Heels will graduate an impactful group of defenders. The IQ is notable in this group, which is normally the case in Chapel Hill, but especially true with the ‘26s. It’s telling that the two highest-ranked players in the class are both noted for their IQ.
(FYI - the article says that it lists the Top 100 recruits for each team. Actually the signee lists in the women’s article only provide players in the top 50. UNC has 6 players ranked in the top 50, plus 3 listed but unranked players in the 51-100 range.)
Historically, UNC doesn’t sign players who played defender in high school; UNC defenders have generally been converted midfielders. Interestingly, the 2026 class features two high school defenders — Gaelle Jones and Ashton Kilfoil. I think both have a lot of potential. As the IL writeup points out — UNC loses a strong group of defenders after the 2026 season (Brooklyn Walker-Welch, Sam Forrest, Ellie Traggio).
A UNC defender who was listed in IL’s 51-100 range: Brooklyn Walker-Welch. A UNC defender not ranked in IL’s top 100: Emma Trenchard. As you are aware, both are multiple year All-Americans.
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Airball, I will say this. Reece King out played Alexa Spallina at the New Balance All American game. I think there is little separation between players that are ranked numbers 1-5. Alexa is good but I think AP and CH were better as the number 1 players coming out of high school than she is. This is just my opinion.