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University of North Carolina Athletics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina women’s lacrosse had eight Tar Heels named All-America by USA Lacrosse, the organization announced on Thursday. Ashley Humphrey, Chloe Humphrey and Brooklyn Walker-Welch were tabbed first team, while Sam Forrest earned second-team honors. Betty Nelson made the third team, and Eliza Osburn, Sophie Student and Olivia Vergano […]
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina women’s lacrosse had eight Tar Heels named All-America by USA Lacrosse, the organization announced on Thursday. Ashley Humphrey, Chloe Humphrey and Brooklyn Walker-Welch were tabbed first team, while Sam Forrest earned second-team honors. Betty Nelson made the third team, and Eliza Osburn, Sophie Student and Olivia Vergano were named Honorable Mention. The eight recognitions are tied for the most nationally.
A graduate student from Darien, Conn., Ashley is the top playmaker in the country and a Tewaaraton Award finalist. A four-time All-America, she currently leads the Tar Heels in points with 98, which is tied for seventh nationally, against one of the nation’s toughest schedules. A first-team All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament team member, she’s tallied 70 assists and 28 goals on the year to accumulate her 98 points, despite being face-guarded in numerous games this season. Humphrey’s 70 assists and 3.9 assists per game lead the nation and she only needs four assists to set UNC’s single-season record. Ashley has tallied 238 career assists between Stanford and UNC and only needs nine more to set a new NCAA record (246 by Kylie Ohlmiller, Stony Brook). She is the NCAA’s active leader in assists (238) and assists per game (3.4) and ranks fourth in points per game (4.99).
Chloe, the freshman phenom from Darien, Conn., is widely considered the nation’s most dynamic young attacker, having scored 73 goals to go along with 24 assists for 97 points against one of the nation’s toughest schedules. A Tewaaraton Award finalist, first-team All-ACC and the ACC Tournament MVP, her 73 goals are tied for sixth nationally and her 97 points rank ninth. She only needs two more goals to set the NCAA record for goals by a freshman (74 by Karri Ellen Johnson, Maryland). Chloe has scored five or more goals eight times this season and has tallied hat tricks in 15 of the first 18 games of her collegiate career. She is the main reason UNC ranks second nationally in goals per game at 17.5.
Walker-Welch, a junior defender from Courtice, Ontario, is now a three-time All-America and the general of UNC’s top-ranked defense. A Tewaaraton Award Top 25 Nominee and first-team All-ACC performer, she has collected 23 groundballs this season to go along with 15 caused turnovers for a defense that is allowing just 6.67 goals per game. The Heels 120 goals allowed is by far the fewest in the nation this year. In eight games against some of the nation’s best attackers, Walker-Welch only allowed 10 goals and four assists. In her marquee match-up with Boston College’s Emma LoPinto, she held the attacker averaging 3.6 goals per game to just two goals and an assist.
Forrest, a junior defender from Glastonbury, Conn., is one of the key cogs in Carolina’s top-ranked defense. A Tewaaraton Award Top 25 Nominee and first-team All-ACC honoree, Forrest has tallied 17 groundballs, 15 caused turnovers and four draw controls for a defense that is allowing just 6.67 goals per game. The Heels 120 goals allowed is by far the fewest allowed in the nation this year. Forrest is often assigned UNC opponent’s top scorer and has done a masterful job keeping them in check. Over 10 games against some of the nation’s best attackers, Forrest held them collectively to just 12 goals and 4 assists. Against Boston College’s Rachel Clark, Forrest held the attacker averaging 4.8 goals per game to just five goals over two games.
A redshirt freshman from Littleton, Colo., Nelson has been a stalwart in goal all season. A second-team All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament member, she has played 819 minutes and made 101 saves on 319 shots for a 50.5 save percentage, which ranks fourth nationally. Nelson’s 7.25 goals against average leads the country and her 99 goals allowed are the fewest in the nation. She only allowed 22 goals over three games in the ACC Tournament to help Carolina win the title and claim her spot on the all-tournament team.
Osburn, a freshman from Castle Rock, Colo., has turned in an outstanding freshman season in midfield, earning ACC Freshman of the Year, second-team All-ACC honors and claiming a spot on the ACC All-Tournament team. She has scored 27 goals and dished out five assists for 32 points to support the nation’s second-ranked offense. She’s also tallied 44 draw controls, 11 groundballs and six caused turnovers to assist the country’s top-ranked defense.
A graduate student from Hopkinton, Mass., Student has seen her play flourish in the midfield throughout the spring. A third-team All-ACC performer, Student earned a starting spot in early March after recovering from an injury that caused her to miss 2024 and hasn’t looked back. She’s amassed 31 draw controls, 15 groundballs and four caused turnovers on the year, while assisting the nation’s top-ranked defense. Student was named ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after tallying a career-high six groundballs against Boston College.
A West Babylon, N.Y. native, Vergano has been an offensive force for the Tar Heels during her first season in Chapel Hill. A preseason ILWomen Top 20 Impact Transfer, Vergano has been just that, posting 29 goals and 11 assists for 40 points on the season to earn second-team All-ACC honors. The 40 points rank third on the team. In addition, she’s grabbed 10 groundballs, six draw controls and caused one turnover.
USA Lacrosse All-Americas are selected by staff and contributors.
A graduate student from Darien, Conn., Ashley is the top playmaker in the country and a Tewaaraton Award finalist. A four-time All-America, she currently leads the Tar Heels in points with 98, which is tied for seventh nationally, against one of the nation’s toughest schedules. A first-team All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament team member, she’s tallied 70 assists and 28 goals on the year to accumulate her 98 points, despite being face-guarded in numerous games this season. Humphrey’s 70 assists and 3.9 assists per game lead the nation and she only needs four assists to set UNC’s single-season record. Ashley has tallied 238 career assists between Stanford and UNC and only needs nine more to set a new NCAA record (246 by Kylie Ohlmiller, Stony Brook). She is the NCAA’s active leader in assists (238) and assists per game (3.4) and ranks fourth in points per game (4.99).
Chloe, the freshman phenom from Darien, Conn., is widely considered the nation’s most dynamic young attacker, having scored 73 goals to go along with 24 assists for 97 points against one of the nation’s toughest schedules. A Tewaaraton Award finalist, first-team All-ACC and the ACC Tournament MVP, her 73 goals are tied for sixth nationally and her 97 points rank ninth. She only needs two more goals to set the NCAA record for goals by a freshman (74 by Karri Ellen Johnson, Maryland). Chloe has scored five or more goals eight times this season and has tallied hat tricks in 15 of the first 18 games of her collegiate career. She is the main reason UNC ranks second nationally in goals per game at 17.5.
Walker-Welch, a junior defender from Courtice, Ontario, is now a three-time All-America and the general of UNC’s top-ranked defense. A Tewaaraton Award Top 25 Nominee and first-team All-ACC performer, she has collected 23 groundballs this season to go along with 15 caused turnovers for a defense that is allowing just 6.67 goals per game. The Heels 120 goals allowed is by far the fewest in the nation this year. In eight games against some of the nation’s best attackers, Walker-Welch only allowed 10 goals and four assists. In her marquee match-up with Boston College’s Emma LoPinto, she held the attacker averaging 3.6 goals per game to just two goals and an assist.
Forrest, a junior defender from Glastonbury, Conn., is one of the key cogs in Carolina’s top-ranked defense. A Tewaaraton Award Top 25 Nominee and first-team All-ACC honoree, Forrest has tallied 17 groundballs, 15 caused turnovers and four draw controls for a defense that is allowing just 6.67 goals per game. The Heels 120 goals allowed is by far the fewest allowed in the nation this year. Forrest is often assigned UNC opponent’s top scorer and has done a masterful job keeping them in check. Over 10 games against some of the nation’s best attackers, Forrest held them collectively to just 12 goals and 4 assists. Against Boston College’s Rachel Clark, Forrest held the attacker averaging 4.8 goals per game to just five goals over two games.
A redshirt freshman from Littleton, Colo., Nelson has been a stalwart in goal all season. A second-team All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament member, she has played 819 minutes and made 101 saves on 319 shots for a 50.5 save percentage, which ranks fourth nationally. Nelson’s 7.25 goals against average leads the country and her 99 goals allowed are the fewest in the nation. She only allowed 22 goals over three games in the ACC Tournament to help Carolina win the title and claim her spot on the all-tournament team.
Osburn, a freshman from Castle Rock, Colo., has turned in an outstanding freshman season in midfield, earning ACC Freshman of the Year, second-team All-ACC honors and claiming a spot on the ACC All-Tournament team. She has scored 27 goals and dished out five assists for 32 points to support the nation’s second-ranked offense. She’s also tallied 44 draw controls, 11 groundballs and six caused turnovers to assist the country’s top-ranked defense.
A graduate student from Hopkinton, Mass., Student has seen her play flourish in the midfield throughout the spring. A third-team All-ACC performer, Student earned a starting spot in early March after recovering from an injury that caused her to miss 2024 and hasn’t looked back. She’s amassed 31 draw controls, 15 groundballs and four caused turnovers on the year, while assisting the nation’s top-ranked defense. Student was named ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after tallying a career-high six groundballs against Boston College.
A West Babylon, N.Y. native, Vergano has been an offensive force for the Tar Heels during her first season in Chapel Hill. A preseason ILWomen Top 20 Impact Transfer, Vergano has been just that, posting 29 goals and 11 assists for 40 points on the season to earn second-team All-ACC honors. The 40 points rank third on the team. In addition, she’s grabbed 10 groundballs, six draw controls and caused one turnover.
USA Lacrosse All-Americas are selected by staff and contributors.
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