University of North Carolina Athletics
Gaines Named ACC Women's Lacrosse Rookie Of The Year
April 24, 2000 | Women's Lacrosse
April 24, 2000
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of North Carolina freshman midfielder Betsy Gaines (Baltimore, Md.) was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year on Friday at the ACC's annual Women's Lacrosse Awards Banquet on the campus of the University of Maryland. The Tar Heels reached the ACC championship game before falling to No. 1-ranked Maryland, 17-6 in Sunday's title game.
In addition, UNC's Meghann Mohler (Baltimore, Md.) and Porter Wilkinson (Charlottesville, Va.) were named to the All-ACC team.
Gaines, a former U.S. Under-19 star, has been one of the top freshmen in the nation this season. She is third among Tar Heels this season in scoring with 26 points and fourth in goals with 19. Gaines is tied for third on the team in assists with seven and is second in shooting percentage at .621. After a slow start this season, she has scored at least one goal in eight of the last nine games (15 goals in those nine games).
Mohler is Carolina's leader from the midfield and has significant responsibilities on both ends of the field. A four-year starter, she was named to the All-ACC team for the second year in a row. She is second among Tar Heels in goals with 22 and in scoring with 30 points. She also is tied for third on the team in assists with seven. Mohler leads the team in draw controls (32), ground balls (39) and shots on goal (52). She is third on the team in caused turnovers with 15.
Wilkinson is Carolina's defensive leader and one of the better defenders in the ACC. In her second year as a starter, she has started 28 of Carolina's last 30 games over the last two years. She is among the Tar Heels' leaders in ground balls and caused turnovers and often marks the opposing team's best offensive players.
The Tar Heels return to action next weekend, when they play road games at Massachusetts on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and at Dartmouth on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The NCAA Women's Lacrosse Tournament begins May 10.
