Syracuse Women's Lacrosse Hosts Top-Ranked North Carolina

The unranked Colorado Buffaloes' upset of No. 2 Northwestern provides inspiration for the Orange ahead of their matchup with the nation's top team.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Syracuse's women's lacrosse team, ranked 13th nationally, will host the top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels at the JMA Wireless Dome on Friday. This comes on the heels of an upset victory by unranked Colorado over No. 2 Northwestern on Monday, a result that has provided inspiration for the Orange ahead of their challenging matchup.

Why it matters

Women's lacrosse has seen increasing parity in recent years, with more upsets of highly ranked teams becoming common. Syracuse's game against the nation's top-ranked team provides an opportunity for the Orange to pull off a major upset and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the sport.

The details

The 13th-ranked Syracuse Orange will host the top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in a highly anticipated women's lacrosse matchup at the JMA Wireless Dome on Friday. This comes just days after unranked Colorado pulled off a stunning upset of No. 2 Northwestern, providing inspiration for the Orange as they prepare to take on the nation's best team.

  • The game will take place on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • On Monday, February 10, 2026, unranked Colorado defeated No. 2 Northwestern.

The players

North Carolina Tar Heels

The top-ranked women's lacrosse team in the nation.

Syracuse Orange

The 13th-ranked women's lacrosse team, hosting the top-ranked Tar Heels.

Colorado Buffaloes

The unranked women's lacrosse team that pulled off a major upset of No. 2 Northwestern earlier this week.

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What’s next

The outcome of the Syracuse-North Carolina matchup will have significant implications for the national rankings and the trajectory of both programs.

The takeaway

Women's lacrosse is experiencing a surge in parity, with more upsets of highly ranked teams becoming common. Syracuse's game against the nation's top team provides an opportunity for the Orange to make a statement and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the sport.