Syracuse Field Hockey: Tar Heels Top Orange 2-1 in OT for ACC Championship

Well, better the Syracuse Orange lose now than in the NCAA Tournament.

The No. 1 Orange took a 17-0 record into the ACC Championship on Sunday but it was the No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels who handed then their first loss and took the title with them in a 2-1 overtime victory. It's the second-straight season the Orange have lost in the ACC Title game.

The Heels took a 1-0 lead into halftime before Roos Weers tied things up with 26 minutes left to play. Things stayed that way through regulation and off to overtime we went. SU had a few chances but multiple shots didn't fall true. Shortly thereafter, UNC's Gab Major's goal past muster under review when a collision knocked SU goalie Jess Jecko down and the Heels were ACC Champs.

The Orange outshot the Heels 11-7 and also won the corners battle, 7-3. Jecko had five saves on the day.

While the loss stings, it doesn't take away from the most-successful regular season in SU Field Hockey history. It may means SU enters the NCAA Tournament as a 2-seed instead of a 1-seed, but that shouldn't make too much of a difference.

Alyssa Manley, Lies Lagerweij and Laura Hurff were named to the ACC All-Tournament Team. Now, Syracuse will find out its potential opponents and seeding while watching the NCAA's Selection Show tonight at 10 p.m.