University of North Carolina Athletics
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Duke
No. 9 Tar Heels Fall To No. 2 Duke In ACC Tournament Semifinals
April 28, 2007 | Men's Lacrosse
April 28, 2007
DURHAM, N.C. - Despite a career-high five goal performance by sophomore attackman Michael Burns, the ninth-ranked University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team fell to second-ranked Duke 13-9 Friday night in the semifinals of the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Lacrosse Tournament at Koskinen Stadium.
The loss ends North Carolina's regular season at 9-5, a five-game improvement from 2006 when the Tar Heels finished 4-10. That is the best turnaround of any team in NCAA Division I this season. Carolina will find out its 2007 NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday evening, May 6 when bids and seedings are announced live on ESPN News at 9 p.m. It is likely the Tar Heels will receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament which would be only its second since 1998. The other bid came in 2004.
On Sunday, North Carolina sophomore attackman Michael Burns was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference All-Tournament Team following his career high five goal performance in the semifinal round against eventual champion Duke.
Although Carolina jumped out to a 3-1 lead Friday night on goals by Nick Tintle, Rob Driscoll and Michael Burns, Duke rallied to take a 6-3 lead by scoring the final five goals of the first quarter.
Nick Tintle opened the scoring the second quarter and his goal was matched by Max Quinzani at 10:22. The Heels took some momentum into halftime when Rob Driscoll broke up a Duke clearing attempt and the Tar Heels scored with three seconds remaining as Bart Wagner fed Michael Burns for the goal.
Carolina pulled within a goal at 10:45 of the third quarter on a goal by Bart Wagner off an assist by Sean Burke. A goal by Bo Carrington led to an 8-6 lead by Duke after three quarters.
Duke (12-2) broke the game open by scoring the first five goals of the fourth quarter, two of them man-up goals. But there was no quit in the Tar Heels as Michael Burns scored three fourth quarter goals to rally the Tar Heels within 13-9 before they ran out of time.
It was a tough night in the goal for both keepers as Carolina's Grant Zimmerman made seven saves while allowing 13 goals and Duke's Dan Loftus allowed nine goals while making eight saves.
Duke outshot Carolina in each quarter and by a game total of 44-35. Carolina led in ground balls 35-33 and won 14 of 26 face-offs. The Tar Heels were hurt in the clearing game as Carolina failed on six clears. Duke also did better at the extra-man, scoring three goals to none for the Heels.
Burns had the five goals for Carolina while Nick Tintle had two goals and an assist. Bart Wagner had a goal and three assists for North Carolina.
Duke was led by Zack Greer with three goals. Three other players had two goals apiece for Duke. Matt Danowski had two goals and four assists.
Carolina relied on its passing game for its offense as seven of nine UNC goals were assisted. Duke based its offense on power one-on-one efforts which led to 13 goals. Danowski's four assists comprised all of the Blue Devils' assists and three of the four assists were on man-up goals.
The result had no effect on the 2006-07 Carlyle Cup standings which remain tied at 13 points apiece for Carolina and Duke.
