Why UNC Lacrosse Needs a Breakout Season in 2025
10/24/2024 10:14 AM
Why UNC Lacrosse Needs a Breakout Season in 2025
The North Carolina Men's Lacrosse program is heading into the 2025 season with a lot riding on it. After two straight years of finishing 7-7, it's starting to feel like mediocrity is creeping into the program. Last season, UNC went 1-3 in conference play, and their out-of-conference losses to teams like Johns Hopkins and Princeton weren't just defeats—they were blowouts. On the flip side, they also dropped some one-goal games to High Point and Army that, frankly, could've gone either way. UNC never sets up an easy schedule, with all of those opponents being tough as nails. But let's face it, for a program of UNC's caliber, they need more than moral victories. Sure, the season ended with a surprising win over Duke, but it was too little, too late. By then, they were out of postseason contention. And missing the postseason? That's just not good enough for a program like UNC.
Let's not forget that UNC isn't far removed from a sensational 2021 season, where they were just one goal away from a national title shot. They fell short against Virginia in the NCAA Semifinals with a heartbreaking 12-11 loss. Since then, it feels like that one goal has set the program back for a few years. That 2021 season feels distant now, with the team struggling to find its footing ever since. UNC has been in a holding pattern of .500 seasons, a place where they simply don't belong. And that’s exactly why this year is so critical—UNC lacrosse needs a big season.
The coaching staff at UNC is stacked with knowledge and experience. Joe Breschi and Dave Pietramala are two of the best in the business, and the fact that they're on the same sideline is almost scary. You talk to anyone who's played for either of them, and they'll tell you how much they respect and connect with these coaches. Both have won at the highest level, and there's no reason they shouldn't be able to replicate that success at UNC. But the ACC is not getting any easier. Syracuse, after struggling for years, is finally trending upward under Gary Gait. Notre Dame has now won back-to-back titles and is pulling in five-star recruits left and right. Virginia? They're always a threat, especially with Lars Tiffany at the helm. And as long as Danowski is running the show at Duke, they'll be competing for national titles. The ACC is the toughest conference in lacrosse, and with teams like Syracuse and Notre Dame hitting their stride, UNC is in danger of getting left behind. They can't afford to coast through another season—they need to pull off meaningful wins, especially in conference play.
The silver lining here is the talent UNC has in its locker room. Owen Duffy and Dominic Pietramala are going to be the core of this team for the next few years. As sophomores, they've already made an impact, and their potential is sky-high. They accounted for a huge chunk of UNC's offense last season, and they're only going to get better. The window is wide open with these two, but they need help. Fortunately, UNC has recruited well, bringing in two five-star midfielders and a handful of four-stars. These new guys are going to need to contribute early, and if they do, UNC could reach its full potential. You don't want to waste Duffy's and Pietramala's careers with nothing to show for it, especially since they could go down as two of the best to ever wear a Tar Heel uniform.
But make no mistake, if UNC has another down year, you can no longer consider them a top-tier program. They have all the pieces—talent, coaching, resources—to be great, but another .500 season would be confirmation that they're struggling to keep pace with the rest of the lacrosse world. UNC belongs in the conversation for national titles and deep postseason runs, and the lacrosse community is better when they're competing at that level. There's just too much at stake for them to drop the ball again.
The 2025 season could make or break UNC lacrosse. With the coaching staff they have, the talent they've recruited, and the pedigree of the program, there's no reason they shouldn't be competing for the ACC crown and a deep postseason run. But they need to prove it. If they can't turn things around this year, the slide from national prominence could continue. For UNC, this season isn't just about wins and losses—it's about reestablishing their place among the elite.
