North Carolina
Butler
UNC Men's Lacrosse Pulls Away From Butler, 13-7
February 26, 2000 | Men's Lacrosse
Feb. 26, 2000
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina outscored Butler 9-2 in the middle 30 minutes of the game to salt away a 13-7 men's lacrosse victory Saturday afternoon before 1,119 fans at Fetzer Field.
Coach Dave Klarmann's team, which was led by three goals each by senior attackman Chase Martin and junior midfielder Mac Hammer, improved to 2-0 on the season while the Bulldogs fell in Craig Kahoun's head coaching debut. Chris Vosburgh and Chris Aitkin each scored twice for the Bulldogs in the losing effort.
UNC sophomore goalkeeper was spectacular all afternoon as he recorded 14 saves and allowed only six goals in 57:45 minutes of play. The Tar Heels outshot the Bulldogs 48-33 and had 61 ground balls to 35 for Butler as Carolina controlled the pace of the game after a tentative first quarter.
The teams were tied 2-2 after the first 15 minutes of play but junior attackman Jeff Sonke, who had two goals and two assists, gave the Tar Heels the lead for good 53 seconds into the second quarter, assisted by Martin. Hammer's second goal of the first half and an unassisted goal by senior midfielder Jordan Herrick extended the Tar Heels' lead to 5-2 with 10:43 to play in the first half.
With Carolina leading 6-4 in the last minute of the second period, the Tar Heels scored twice to change the whole complexion of the game. Hammer scored his third goal of the first half 37 seconds before halftime and then freshman midfielder Kyle Bell scored seven seconds before the break to make it 8-4 in favor of the home team at halftime.
Carolina's defense buckled down with a shutout third quarter and goals by Martin, sophomore attackman Andy Jonas and freshman attackman Steven Will pushed the Heels' lead to seven goals at 11-4.
Butler cut the lead to 11-6 2:17 into the fourth quarter but Sonke's second goal of the game and a goal by senior attackman Matt Crofton (1g, 2a) with 4:42 left put the Heels up 13-6. Aitkin's scored his second goal for Butler on a rebound with exactly one minute left to end the scoring.
Butler will continue its road trip tomorrow when the 21st-ranked Bulldogs play at #5 Duke at 2 p.m. The 10th-ranked Tar Heels will have a full week off before hosting the 12th-ranked Navy Midshipmen next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Fetzer Field as former Tar Heel player and assistant coach Richie Meade brings his USNA team to Chapel Hill.
