By R.L. Bynum

Top seed and No. 1-ranked North Carolina started the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament the way most of the season has been — with domination.

The Tar Heels never trailed in rolling to their third victory over Clemson, this time 18–9 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Dorrance Field behind Marissa White’s fifth five-goal game of her career.

Chloe Humphrey (top photo) scored four goals to set the NCAA record for goals by a freshman at 77. That topped the previous record of 74 by Maryland’s Karri Ellen Johnson.

Ashley Humphrey had a game-high seven assists for UNC to give her 245 for her career, one away from tying the NCAA record and setting the program record with 77 in a season.

UNC (19–0) moved on to a 7:30 p.m. quarterfinal game at home Thursday (ESPNU) against Princeton (20–10), which upset No. 8-seed Johns Hopkins 18–12, with a spot in the Final Four on the line.

The Tar Heels, who moved 43–22 all-time in NCAA tournament play and have won 94 of their last 106 games, seek their fourth national championship after winning titles in 2013, 2016, and 2022.

Carolina jumped out to an 8–2 lead on White’s score with 9:05 left in the first half, the Tar Heels’ fourth consecutive goal. Clemson (which finished 14–7) cut its halftime deficit to 9–5 with three goals in the last 5½ minutes of the first half.

UNC pulled away, leading 13–6 after three quarters after a White score. Another White goal in the final quarter pushed the lead to 16–7.

Carolina outshot Clemson 38–20, including 22–11 in the second half.