TOP RETURNERS
Owen Duffy, A, So. (32G, 22A)
Brady Wambach, FO, So. (61.1 FO%, 85 GB)
Peter Thomann, D, So. (21 CT, 28 GB)
Duffy missed the end of last season and all of fall ball with a knee injury, but Breschi expects his star player to be healthy and active when North Carolina opens the 2025 campaign Feb. 8 against Michigan in Chapel Hill.
“When Duffy comes back, he brings a completely different element. He can beat you off the dribble,” Breschi said. “Last year, he was against everybody’s No. 1 defenseman. As a freshman. You know he’ll be doing that again.”
KEY ADDITIONS
Michael Gianforcaro, G, Gr. (55.7 SV%, 10.45 GAA at Princeton)
Nick DuPuis, A, Gr. (16G, 50A at Stony Brook)
Caden Harshbarger, M, Fr. (53G, 28A at Lake Mary, Fla.)
Gianforcaro was a two-time captain at Princeton and was voted captain (along with Ty English and Ryan Levy) by his new team in the fall. He will stabilize the young defense.
“A stud individual,” Breschi said. “I couldn’t be more excited for his leadership.”
DuPuis has experience in spades, having previously played at UMBC and Stony Brook, and gives the offense a more prototypical table-setter.
NOTABLE DEPARTURES
Graduations: Logan McGovern, A; Lance Tillman, A/M; Collin Krieg, G
X-FACTOR
Ty English, M, Sr. (29 GB, 13 CT)
The brother of former Princeton and Syracuse two-way dynamo Sam English boasts a similar Swiss Army skillset and will get more opportunities to flash his utility as a true midfielder after serving on the defensive side for most of his career.
“He’s a natural athlete and really explosive off the dodge,” Breschi said.
Moving English and adding Cornell transfer Spencer Wirtheim gives North Carolina midfield depth and experience it previously lacked at the position.
THE NARRATIVE
Can Duffy and Pietramala lead the Tar Heels back into postseason contention? That’s the magic question for North Carolina, which has missed three consecutive NCAA tournaments after making the semifinals in 2021.
The Tar Heels scored 18 goals in a fall scrimmage against Yale without them. Just imagine how good the offense will be with them back for a second year in Thompson’s system.
“We’re thinking more position-less in our approach,” Breschi said, noting how well James Matan, Brevin Wilson and DuPuis did manning the attack while the star duo recovered from their injuries. “Seeing the six that work best together, rather than three and three.”
Breschi also identified three areas of self-examination after a .500 season: leadership, accountability and identity. Regarding the latter, he said, look for a more up-tempo team running 10 deep on offense come Feb. 8.
“It’s a work in progress,” he said. “There’s really good leadership. We’re fine-tuning where everyone fits. It’s all about the chemistry.”
