University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Lacrosse Opens Season Sunday
February 14, 2001 | Men's Lacrosse
Feb. 14, 2001
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - John Haus has waited almost nine months for this coming Sunday to arrive. The 1983 Carolina alumnus, who was hired as the Tar Heels' men's lacrosse coach on June 1, 2000, will roam the sidelines as the UNC head mentor for the first time this Sunday when the Heels open their 2001 season against Fairfield. The game begins at 1 p.m. and will be played at Fetzer Field.
There is no admission charge to Sunday's game.
Carolina returns 28 lettermen and five starters from a team which finished the 2000 season with an 8-6 record. That was the first time that Carolina finished with a winning mark since 1996. This year's team will be led by senior captains Jeff Sonke at attack, Ryan Damon and Mac Hammer in the midfield and as faceoff specialists and Bobby Gormsen as one of the nation's premier long-stick midfielders. Sonke was named a preseason frist team All-America attackman by Faceoff Magazine while Gormsen was a third team preseason All-America choice and Hammer and sophomore midfielder Austin Garrison were named honorable mention.
Haus will be beginning his seventh season as a college head coach. He spent four years at Washington College (1995-98) and two years at Johns Hopkins (1999-2000).
Fairfield will also be playing its season opener Sunday. The Stags were 2-9 a year ago under head coach Ted Spencer.
The Tar Heels, #10 in the Faceoff Magazine preseason poll, defeated Fairfield 12-11 at Fetzer Field last season.
