ACC Final: Syracuse and Boston College Chase a First Title After Ending UNC’s Nine-Year Run

Nine years. That’s how long North Carolina owned this tournament, and Syracuse ripped it away in a shootout on Wednesday.

The Orange face Boston College in Friday’s ACC final at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill, 3 p.m. ET (1 a.m. PKT Saturday), live on ACC Network. Syracuse are chasing a first ACC title. Boston College have never lifted it at all.

Syracuse got here the hard way. They trailed the top seeds twice and still found a way through. Hattie Madden opened the scoring in the 20th minute, her seventh of the season, and Jenna Narleski levelled it two minutes later. Aubrey Turner put Syracuse back in front with her tenth, and Charly Bruder made it 2-2 before the half-hour. The game finished 2-2 after regulation and overtime.

Then came the shootout. Syracuse scored three of four. UNC managed one. Goalkeeper Tane King stopped three straight, and Sammie Goin buried the clincher in the fourth round.

The numbers say UNC should have won it. They outshot Syracuse 22-5. They had a 45th-minute goal wiped out on video review after the whistle had already blown, and a 58th-minute penalty stroke sailed high. That’s the kind of day it was for the nine-time defending champions. Their nine straight ACC titles and nine straight final appearances are over, and the first non-UNC champion since 2016 is guaranteed.

Boston College earned their place in overtime too. Virginia struck first after just 72 seconds through Marisa Fahning, and the Eagles had to chase the game from there. Klara Mueffelmann levelled it in the 29th minute, then set up Maren Boyle for the winner in the 64th. BC are 10-9 now. Virginia finish 9-7.

This is BC’s first ACC final since 2024, and the form book gives them a real edge. They beat Syracuse 3-1 on 30 October, less than a week ago. But Syracuse have won all three previous ACC tournament meetings between these two, and they arrive with the belief that comes from knocking out the champions.

For our money, it’s a coin toss. BC have the recent win. Syracuse have the momentum and the goalkeeper who just stared down the best team in the country. One of them walks away with a first title. That’s what Friday is for.