Clearly in front of the injury bug, Walker-Welch and UNC enjoy this season

Defender Sam Forrest was a newcomer to the sidelines when North Carolina won this title in 2022 after he was released in eight games in eight games in her first year. Forrest played in two early season games in 2023 before it was broken off in the second year and was a steady presence for the short-tar Heels in 2024, the year when Walker-Welch had relegated to the sidelines.

“We are both quite independent people and want to find out for themselves, but after all we have opened each other,” said Forrest about the experiences of the players. “The mental piece is the most difficult part of it; you have to understand that not everything feels the same. You have to have these tough conversations.”

The return of Walker-Welch and others in Carolina's defense unit in 2025 showed a remarkable difference in the boxing point. The Tar Heels lead the nation in defense (6.95 goals per game) after the 52nd place in the category (11.41) in 2024.

The return of the decorated national award winner was an essential part of it, as was a group that only spent a minimum time in the field to find the cohesion.

Walker-Welch interrupted her triumphal return by achieving the honor of the USA Lacrosse first team all-American honors at the beginning of this month.

“We took a moment in circles, and Jenny [Levy] Walked around us, “said Walker-Welch.” She reminds us that we were injured last year and this year play at this time. It shows how much we were based on each other and rely on our teammates during this time.

When North Carolina takes the field in the Gillette Stadium on Friday afternoon, Tar Heels, who have spent so much time in the field in recent years, will be grateful for a return to Lacosse's best weekend.

“This whole week we were excited and grateful for the opportunity to be here at all,” said Walker-Welch. “I was not here in this position last year, so I am grateful that I can go to the field, give everything we have and leave everything in the field, since every single person in our team has their backs.”