University of North Carolina Athletics
Carlyle Cup Still Undecided
April 23, 2007 | General
April 23, 2007
The seventh annual Carlyle Cup between Carolina and Duke is not over. It could be decided Friday on the lacrosse field. Or maybe not, if the schools were to meet in the NCAA Tennis Championships.
Carolina currently trails the all-sports competition with Duke, 13.5 to 12.5, with all 26 points already allocated. However, the Tar Heels have a chance to avenge regular-season losses to Duke in both men's and women's lacrosse in their respective ACC Tournaments.
Since Carolina currently holds the Carlyle Cup, 13 points are needed to retain it for another year. Duke must finish with at least 13.5 points to take the Cup back for the first time since 2004.
Carolina can even the season series in men's lacrosse and win back a half-point Friday night in the ACC Tournament semifinals at Duke. The same could be possible on Friday afternoon in women's lacrosse if UNC defeats Virginia Tech Thursday and advances to the ACC Tournament semifinals against Duke in Chapel Hill.
If the Tar Heels were to win either lacrosse match, they would have the 13 points needed to retain the Carlyle Cup.
Other, more remote, possibilities would be if the Carolina and Duke men's and women's tennis teams were to face each other in the NCAA Championships. The Tar Heel men lost to Duke in their dual match on April 11 and could potentially win back a half-point. The UNC women defeated Duke on April 15, so the Blue Devils could win back a half-point there if they were to meet in the NCAAs.
At this point, the only certainty is that the Carlyle Cup isn't over yet.
