By R.L. Bynum

No. 1 North Carolina is a win away from its second undefeated women’s lacrosse championship season in four years after avenging last year’s season-ending loss to Florida in dominating fashion.

After falling behind by two goals, the Tar Heels scored the game’s last 18 goals and rolled past No. 4 Florida 20–4 Friday in a national semifinal at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., to make the NCAA championship game for the sixth time in program history.

Carolina will play for its fourth national championship at noon Sunday (ESPN) against No. 3 Northwestern (19–2), which beat No. 2 Boston College 12–11 in the second semifinal.

Chloe Humphrey (top photo) scored all seven of her goals for a career-high during that incredible run to break Jamie Ortega’s single-season program scoring record (82 in 2021) and extend her NCAA freshman scoring record.

“Chloe started the party and just started putting goals,” UNC coach Jenny Levy said. “I think all aspects of our game were sharp by the first quarter, and I thought it made a big difference for us today.”

Chloe Humphrey, a Tewaaraton Award finalist, sat out most of the fourth quarter and has 86 goals for the season.

“They gave us their best effort in the first quarter,” Chloe Humphrey said of Florida. “I think we were able to make adjustments. [Assistant coach] Marie [McCool] told me how to beat my defender in front of me, and I gave her credit for so many adjustments.

“We both learned how to use that to our advantage, and I think my teammates were putting the ball in my stick, which made it so much easier,” she said.

The Gators (20–3) ended UNC’s season a year ago with a 17–8 first-round victory, but the Tar Heels (21–0) returned the favor, dominating draw controls 20–7 and holding Florida scoreless for the last 48½ minutes. The last championship came when Carolina went 22–0 in 2022.

“It was heartbreaking last year losing to Florida,” UNC defender Sam Forrest said. “We all wanted to go further than we did, and we had so many injuries it. It was heartbreaking for everyone on and off the field, but we used that to not get mad, but get even.

“We wanted to cash our check and make sure that we got our revenge on them, and finish our strong season and keep going into the next game,” Forrest said. “It was mostly just a motivation for us because we wanted to get our win back.”

Carolina has scored a program-record 372 goals as the Tar Heels have woven experienced players with young talent.

“We knew the potential of it when you look at it on paper, whether it’s Chloe, and then Ashley [Humphrey] played last year for us,” Levy said. “She had a semester under her belt, and how we like to do things. She learned a lot. Obviously, bringing Marissa [White] back from injury and getting Kayleigh Harden back from injury, and the influx of our freshmen, Eliza Osburn and Kate Levy, those guys have given us so much depth.”

Harden tied it five minutes into the game on a driving shot after Florida’s Frannie Hahn scored on a close-in shot in the game’s first minute.

Carolina took the lead three minutes later when Florida goalie Elyse Finnelle tried to clear the ball after stopping a shot by UNC’s Olivia Vergano and swept it past the goal line. Vergano was credited with the goal.

Florida charged to a 4–2 lead after the first quarter on goals by Kaitlyn Davies, Clark Hamilton and Jordan Basso, the latter on a power play.

Carolina took control, seized the lead and started the rout by outscoring the Gators 10–0 in the second quarter, then 7–0 in the third quarter.

Chloe Humphrey scored the first three: the first on a terrific pass from Eliza Osburn, and the second with a wrap-around score, going five-hole on Finelle and the third on a pass from Caroline Godine.

“I think my dad would always tell me in third grade, there’s kind of no off button,” Chloe Humphrey said. “It was just get the ball in the back of the net, and I just naturally always had that, even little pee-wee soccer. It’s awesome to see how I’ve developed with the people around me, through every team, it’s just pushed me to be the best player, person and teammate that I could have imagined.”

After Osburn continued the run with a goal, Ashley Humphrey assisted on goals from Addison Pattillo and White, and Harden scored before goals from Chloe Humphrey and Osburn and a 12–4 halftime lead.

Chloe Humphey extended UNC’s run with two goals in the first 3½ minutes of the second half. Two White goals sandwiched a Kate Levy goal before Chloe Humphrey scored again and Harden scored.

Nicole Humphrey made it 20–4 with 10:19 left in the game.

NOTES — UNC leads the series with Florida 15–4, including a 14–9 win in Gainesville, Fla., on Feb. 15. … The Tar Heels are 3–1 in NCAA tournament games against the Gators, with the lone loss last season’s first-round defeat. … Carolina is 45–22 in NCAA tournament play.