Syracuse Field Hockey Wins National Championship by Topping North Carolina, 4-2

For the first time in Syracuse University's history, a women's team has captured a national championship.

The Syracuse field hockey team defeated North Carolina, 4-2, in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Sunday to win the national title. The Orange finish the season at 21-1 overall, with their lone blemish coming against North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Nov. 8.

But Syracuse got plenty of revenge for that loss on Sunday. The Orange got out to an early start when Emma Russell scored in the ninth minute to grab a 1-0 lead, followed by an Alma Fenne goal less than 10 minutes later.

The score remained at 2-0 into halftime, but North Carolina responded in the second half. By the 56th minute, the Tar Heels had registered two goals — one off the stick of Gab Major and another from Malin Evert — to tie the score.

Roughly three minutes later, though, Syracuse's Zoe Wilson logged the go-ahead goal. The Tar Heels soon removed their goalie, and Syracuse's Emma Lamison scored on an empty net in the 64th minute to give Syracuse breathing room.

This year's Final Four was the third Syracuse participated in within the last four years and its fourth since 2008. Despite that consistent success, the Orange have never been able to call themselves national champions  — until today.