Charlotte, NC – On Friday night at American Legion Memorial Stadium, the No. 3 seed Duke Blue Devils men’s lacrosse team delivered a performance that was as clinical as it was commanding, routing the No. 2 seed North Carolina Tar Heels 14-7 in the 2025 ACC Tournament semifinal. The victory avenged an 8-7 regular-season loss to UNC on April 12 and propelled Duke into Sunday’s ACC Championship game against Syracuse, a team they’ll face with revenge on their minds after a 10-4 defeat in March.
This was Duke at their finest: relentless, balanced, and unrelenting. For a program chasing its first ACC title since 2012, the Blue Devils played with the swagger of a team ready to reclaim their place atop the conference. With an NCAA Tournament berth already in their pocket, this win was about sending a message—and North Carolina, their fiercest rival, was on the receiving end.
A Statement from the Start
Duke (12-4) wasted no time asserting dominance. The Blue Devils stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter, with sophomore attack Tomas Delgado setting the tone. In his first start of the season, Delgado notched a hat trick in the opening 15 minutes, exploiting UNC’s defense with a blend of speed and precision. His third goal, a low-to-high rocket with 4:37 left in the first, sent a clear signal: Duke came to play.
Duke’s early onslaught was fueled by faceoff specialist Jake Naso, who went 15-of-23 at the X, outmuscling UNC’s Brady Wambach (14-of-23). Naso’s ground ball scoops sparked transition opportunities, including a coast-to-coast goal by long-stick midfielder Kenny Brower that pushed Duke’s lead to 6-1 in the second quarter. By halftime, the Blue Devils led 7-1, a margin that stunned the Tar Heel faithful and silenced any hopes of a repeat of their regular-season upset.
Jameison’s Wall in Net
If Delgado and Naso were the offensive and possession catalysts, goalkeeper Patrick Jameison was the backbone. The senior made 12 saves, including six in the first half, thwarting UNC’s attempts to claw back into the game. His sprawling stop on a Dominic Pietramala shot in the second quarter preserved Duke’s momentum, and his composure under pressure—especially during a 30-minute weather delay in the third—kept UNC’s offense at bay.
Duke’s defense, anchored by All-ACC defenseman Keith McKay and graduate student Tyler Carpenter, was equally suffocating. They held UNC to just one goal through the first 30 minutes, forcing 10 turnovers and limiting the Tar Heels’ high-powered attack. Pietramala, who led UNC with two goals, was shadowed relentlessly, while Logan McGovern, the hero of UNC’s 15-12 win over Duke last season, was held scoreless.
UNC’s Late Push Falls Short
North Carolina (10-4), which shared the ACC regular-season title with Notre Dame, showed flashes of life in the fourth quarter, outscoring Duke 5-2. Goals from Ty English, Mason Szewczyk, and three others gave the Tar Heels a glimmer of hope, but the deficit was too deep. Duke’s early 10-1 lead, capped by Aidan Danenza’s unassisted tally in the third, proved insurmountable.
UNC’s Michael Gianforcaro made eight saves in goal, but the Tar Heels’ offense struggled to find rhythm against Duke’s disciplined defense. Despite winning the faceoff battle narrowly, UNC couldn’t capitalize on possessions, a stark contrast to their regular-season win in Durham, where they edged Duke 8-7 behind Gianforcaro’s 12 saves and a late man-up goal by Szewczyk.
A Rivalry Renewed, A Title in Sight
Friday’s rout was the 83rd meeting between these Tobacco Road rivals, with UNC still leading the all-time series 45-38. But this was Duke’s night, their first neutral-site win over UNC since the 2012 ACC Tournament and a emphatic response to their regular-season setback. The Blue Devils’ 14 goals tied for the most UNC allowed this season, a testament to Duke’s depth. Seven different players scored, with Delgado (four goals) and Brennan O’Neill (two goals, two assists) leading the way.
For Duke, the win sets up a high-stakes ACC Championship showdown with No. 4 seed Syracuse on Sunday at noon (ACC Network). The Orange stunned top-seeded Notre Dame 14-12 in Friday’s first semifinal, powered by Owen Hiltz’s five goals and Jimmy McCool’s 20 saves. Duke will look to reverse their March 22 loss to Syracuse, when the Orange held them to a season-low four goals in a 10-4 rout.
A Program Peaking at the Right Time
As the final horn sounded, Duke’s players celebrated with a quiet confidence, knowing their work isn’t done. With a 12-4 record and a resume that includes wins over then-No. 7 UNC and No. 4 Virginia, the Blue Devils are poised for a deep NCAA Tournament run. But first, they have a chance to claim the ACC crown, a title that has eluded them for over a decade.
For UNC, the loss stings but doesn’t end their season. Their 10-4 record and regular-season ACC title share should secure an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, though their seeding remains uncertain. The Tar Heels will await the selection show on Sunday night, hoping to regroup and rediscover the form that made them a top-10 team.
In Charlotte, under the Friday night lights, Duke was the story. They played with purpose, precision, and a chip on their shoulder. Now, with Syracuse looming, the Blue Devils are one win away from etching their name in ACC history.