University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Drop Season Finale to Loyola
June 21, 1999 | Men's Lacrosse
May 9, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Top-ranked Loyola remained undefeated in the regular season and improved to 12-0 after defeating 16th ranked North Carolina 10-7 in a defensive battle Saturday night at Fetzer Field. With the loss, the Tar Heels closed their season with a 6-9 record.
Loyola jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first quarter led by junior attackman Tim Gottelmann who had the first goal of the game and an assist on the second goal. Carolina rallied with 4:53 remaining in the first on the extra man goal from junior attackman Kevin Mehm. Tar Heel junior Chase Martin scored three minutes later to close the Greyhound lead to 4-2. A goal by Peter Haas with 51 seconds remaining in the first increased the Loyola lead to 5-2.
The defensive battle ultimately started in the second quarter, which featured only two goals, both scored by the Heels. Freshman Tim Gosier scored at the 10:06 mark off the assist from junior Jeff Sonke. The scoring remained quiet for the next eight minutes until Mehm struck again on the extra man opportunity to bring the Heels within one heading into the second half.
Despite six third quarter penalties, neither team could convert on the extra man opportunities. Instead, it took Loyola nearly nine minutes to score the first goal of the quarter off the Mark Frye score at the 6:06 mark. Teammate Peter Haas added another goal just over a minute later in the only scoring of the quarter to give the Greyhounds a 7-4 pad at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter the Heels and Greyhounds traded three goals apiece which was enough for the Greyhounds to hang on to their three goal lead as they sealed the 10-7 victory on an empty net goal from Frye with 59 seconds remaining. The offensive total was the second lowest for both squads all season.
Gottelmann and Hass both finished with three points for the Greyhounds, with two goals and an assist each. On the Tar Heel side Mehm finished with his two extra man goals and junior Matt Crofton led all players with four points, all coming from assists. Loyola goal keeper Jim Brown finished with 13 saves and Tar Heel goalies Jarron Harkness and Kris Blindenbacher combined for 21 saves.
