UNC Kicks Off 2011 Campaign Saturday

February 8, 2011 | Men's Lacrosse

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Feb. 10, 2011

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--Come join the University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team on Saturday, February 12th for Youth Lacrosse Day at historic Fetzer Field as the third-ranked Tar Heels open their season against Robert Morris University at 2:30 p.m.

The day features a doubleheader of Carolina Lacrosse 2011 season openers. First, at noon, the No. 3 UNC women's lacrosse squad hosts Florida. Following that game, at 2:30pm, the No. 3 UNC Men's Lacrosse faces Robert Morris.

Bring the following flyer and receive just $1 admission for any youth lacrosse player!

Download Youth Lacrosse Day Flyer

Bringing a whole team? Have your team recognized during the game by RSVPing to Rachel Penny at rfpenny@uncaa.unc.edu by Thursday, February 10th at 5pm.

Admission for all UNC women's lacrosse games is FREE. Admission for UNC Men's Lacrosse games is just $5. All UNC home games are played on Fetzer Field. You can purchase full price UNC men's lacrosse tickets at the link at the top of this page.

UNC and Robert Morris will meet in the season opener at Fetzer Field for the second time in three years. The two teams opened the 2009 campaign with a 16-4 UNC win at Fetzer Field. Last year, the Tar Heels eked out a 17-14 win at Robert Morris in the return trip.

For those who can't make Saturday's game please follow it online via Gametracker.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA MEN'S LACROSSE GAME NOTES

GAME #1
No. 3 North Carolina (0-0) vs. Robert Morris (0-0)
Saturday, February 12, 2011, 2:30 p.m.
Fetzer Field, Chapel Hill, N.C.

CAROLINA OPENS 2011 SEASON VERSUS ROBERT MORRIS

The University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team will open 2011 season Saturday, February 12 when it meets Northeast Conference foe Robert Morris at 2:30 p.m. at Fetzer Field. The Tar Heels are ranked No. 3 heading into the season in polls conducted by Nike/Inside Lacrosse, Face-Off Yearbook and the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association coaches' poll. Robert Morris was ranked No. 21 in the Face-Off Yearbook preseason poll and the Colonials are coming off an impressive 12-10 scrimmage victory over 2010 NCAA finalist Notre Dame this past weekend. The Tar Heels scrimmaged both Denver and Georgetown last weekend in Chapel Hill. Admission to Saturday's game will be $5 general admission. It is also Youth Lacrosse Day at Fetzer Field and all youth lacrosse players will be admitted for a single dollar when presenting a flyer which can be downloaded off TarHeelBlue.com. General admission tickets can also be purchased at the Ticket Center on TarHeelBlue.com. Live stats for the game will be available on TarHeelBlue.com. Updates will also be available on Twitter and on the Inside Lacrosse blog

YOUTH SHALL BE SERVED

North Carolina enters the 2011 season with what Coach Joe Breschi refers to as a more athletic team than a year ago but also a team which on average is much less experienced. The Tar Heels graduated an outstanding senior class in 2010 off Carolina's most successful team in 13 seasons. Carolina has an impressive senior class in 2011 led by players like Billy Bitter, Ryan Flanagan and Michael Burns, but Breschi has also indicated that 11 of the freshmen on the 40-man roster could run in the regular rotation for UNC. The 12 freshmen on the roster mark the first group of recruits Breschi brought to Chapel Hill after his hiring in the summer of 2008.

THE CAROLINA CAPTAINS

For the first time in recent memory, the 2011 Carolina team is represented on the field by a pair of senior captains who were elected to those posts unanimously by their peers. Senior midfielder Michael Burns and senior defenseman Ryan Flanagan were elected to those posts in the fall. Ironically neither player was on campus when the vote took place. Burns was studying abroad in England while Flanagan was doing community service with Fields of Growth International in Uganda.

TAR HEELS COMING OFF 13-WIN SEASON

Carolina is coming off one of the most successful seasons in Tar Heel history. Carolina's victory over Delaware in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on May 16, 2010 gave the Tar Heels 13 wins during the 2010 campaign. That was the most wins for a Carolina team since the 1993 squad finished the season 14-2, losing only to Syracuse in the NCAA title game and Virginia in the regular season. The 2010 Tar Heel team finished 13-3 overall. It was one of only five Tar Heel teams in the history of the sport to reach the 13-win plateau, joining the 1982 (14-0), 1989 (13-5), 1991 (16-0) and 1993 (14-2) units.

BRESCHI'S FAST START WITH THE TAR HEELS

After taking over for John Haus in the summer of 2008, UNC head coach Joe Breschi has led the Tar Heels to incredible heights in his first two campaigns as head coach. In fact, Breschi has led the Tar Heels to 25 wins in his first two years as head coach. Only Dave Klarmann in 1991-92 led UNC to more wins in his first two seasons as head coach with 28 victories. Ironically, Joe Breschi was one of Klarmann's assistant coaches on those two teams. The 25 wins in 2009 & 2010 can only be compared to two other eras in UNC lacrosse -- 26 wins in 1981 & 1982 and a five-year period from 1989-1993 when UNC won a minimum of 12 games each of those five seasons.

UNC'S NCAA TOURNAMENT STREAK

North Carolina has made the NCAA Tournament field for each of the past four years going into the 2011 campaign. That is a considerable accomplishment given the fact UNC has only been in the Tournament a total of five times since 1998. The last time UNC appeared in four straight NCAA Tournaments came from 1980-96 when the Tar Heels appeared in 17 straight NCAA Tournament fields.

FIRST UNDEFEATED HOME SEASON IN 17 YEARS

North Carolina finished the 2010 campaign undefeated at home with a 7-0 mark. The last time Carolina had gone undefeated at home was 1993 when the Tar Heels were also 7-0.

CAROLINA IS LED BY 10-MAN SENIOR CLASS

While much attention has been showered on UNC's talented freshman class in 2011, the fact is this year's senior class is also one of the most talented in the nation. Most of the seniors on the roster will be running in UNC's regular 25-28 man rotation of starters and key reserves. The senior group includes attackman Billy Bitter, midfielder Chris Hunt, goalkeeper Chris Madalon, midfielder Ed Prevost, defenseman Kevin Piegare, defenseman Ryan Flanagan, midfielder Michael Burns, midfielder Matt Davie, defenseman Milton Lyles and defenseman Emmit Kellar. Lyles will be redshirting in 2011 after surgery to repair an ACL tear last fall. Bitter will be a starter on attack while Flanagan and Piegare will start on defense and Madalon in the goal. Burns is UNC's top short stick defensive midfielder while Hunt and Prevost are both expected to earn roles in the top three offensive midfielder positions.

UNC's TOP OFFENSIVE OUTPUT IN 14 MONTHS

When UNC scored 19 goals in a 19-13 win over Ohio State on May 8, 2010, it marked the top offensive output by the Tar Heels since March 4, 2009 when Carolina defeated Detroit 19-4 at Henry Stadium in Chapel Hill. The 32 goals scored in the game were the most in a Tar Heel game since April 8, 2006 when UNC and Virginia combined for 34 goals in a 21-13 Virginia victory over Carolina.

A 2-1 ACC FINISH

North Carolina finished the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season schedule with a record of 2-1 after beating Duke 13-7 and Maryland 9-7 before losing to Virginia 7-5. The last time the Tar Heels won two ACC regular-season games was 2004 when Carolina finished 2-1 and placed second in the league standings. UNC shared last year's regular-season ACC championship with Virginia as both teams finished at 2-1. Prior to 2010, the last time the Tar Heels shared the ACC regular season championship was 2003 when UNC, Maryland and Virginia all tied for first place at 2-1.

TAR HEELS SWEPT ACC REGULAR SEASON AWARDS IN 2010

The University of North Carolina swept the top three ACC awards in men's lacrosse in 2010. Attackman Billy Bitter was named the 2010 ACC Player of the Year, attackman Marcus Holman was named the 2010 ACC Freshman of the Year and head coach Joe Breschi was named the 2010 ACC Coach of the Year. itter and Breschi were the first ACC player and coach of the year winners for UNC since 1996 while Holman was UNC's first freshman of the year award winner since 1998. It is the first time in school history the Tar Heels have swept all three awards.

THREE TAR HEELS NAMED ALL-ACC IN 2010

Three players represented North Carolina on the 2010 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team --attackman Billy Bitter, defenseman Ryan Flanagan and goalkeeper Chris Madalon. The three selections were the most for the Tar Heels since three players represented the 2004 team on the All-ACC Team - attackman Jed Prossner, midfielder Bryan Will and defenseman Ronnie Staines.

THE SERIES WITH THE COLONIALS

North Carolina and Robert Morris will be meeting for the third time in history on Saturday. The two teams also opened the 2009 campaign at Fetzer Field with the Tar Heels triumphing 16-4. In the return trip to Moon Township, Pa., in 2010, the Tar Heels won a wild 17-14 shootout with the Colonials on RMU's Senior Day game on April 17, 2011.

THE CAROLINA DEPTH CHART

Attack:

#4, Billy Bitter, Sr.; #2 Thomas Wood, Jr.; #1, Marcus Holman, So.; #34, Nicky Galasso, Fr.; #41, Pat Foster, Fr.; #12, Stephen Burns, So.
Midfield Units: #5, Chris Hunt, Sr.; #8, T.J. Kemp, Fr.; #9, Jeff Muscatello, Jr.; #16, Ed Prevost, Sr.; #20, Jimmy Dunster, Jr.; #22, Duncan Hutchins, Fr.; #23, Will Campbell, Fr.; #28, Matt Davie, Sr.; #33, Ryan Creighton, Fr.; #43, Mark McNeill, Fr.
Close Defense: #24, Ryan Flanagan, Jr.; #45, Charlie McComas, So.; #17, Kevin Piegare, Jr.; #31, Jordan Smith, Fr.; #40, Emmit Kellar, Sr.
Goalkeeper: #11, Chris Madalon, Sr.
Face-Offs: #25, R.G. Keenan, Fr.; #14, Frankie Kelly, Fr.
Short Stick Defensive Midfield: #26, Michael Burns, Sr.
Long Stick Defensive Midfield: #6, Mark Staines, Jr.; #37, Gray Smith, So.; #44, Logan Corey, Jr.; #46, William Scroggs, So.; #48, Kieran McDonald, So.

PLAYING BEFORE A RECORD CROWD

The Tar Heels played before a crowd of 25,710 on April 10, 2010 when they fell to Virginia 7-5 in the Konica Minolta Big City Classic at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. That was both the largest regular-season crowd for any NCAA Division I men's lacrosse game in history and the largest crowd to ever see the Tar Heels play in any game, regular-season or post-season.

LARGEST HOME CROWD IN 19 YEARS

UNC defeated Maryland 9-7 on March 27, 2010 before a crowd of 4,817 fans at Fetzer Field. That was UNC's largest home crowd at Fetzer Field since April 6, 1991 when the Tar Heels defeated Johns Hopkins 11-6 before a crowd of 5,700 fans.

CAROLINA IN THE POLLS

Carolina is currently ranked third in both the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association coaches poll and the Inside Lacrosse/Nike media poll. Face-Off Magazine, Inside Lacrosse and the USILA all ranked UNC No. 3 in the preseason.

THE ALL-TIME HOME RECORD

With a 7-0 home record in 2010, UNC now has an all-time home mark of 240-113-2 (.679). That record includes games played at Fetzer Field, Kenan Stadium, Henry Stadium, Finley Field and Navy Field. Carolina's nine home wins in 2009 were the most in a season in school history.

UNC PASSES ALL-TIME 400 VICTORY MARK AGAINST NAVY

Since the Tar Heels played their first varsity game against Delaware in 1949, North Carolina has compiled a 409-257-2 record, a winning percentage of .615. Carolina's 400th win came at Navy on February 25, 2010 by an 11-4 score.

THE BRESCHI LEDGER

Now in his 14th year as a head coach, including the first 11 campaigns at Ohio State where he was 92-63, and two seasons at Carolina where he is 25-9 (.735), head coach Joe Breschi is 117-72 overall (.619).

CAROLINA CONTINUES TO THRIVE IN NON-LEAGUE GAMES

UNC's record in non-conference games continues to be one of the best in the nation over the past four seasons. After a 14-13 win over Delaware on May 16, 2010 the Tar Heels have now won 42 of their past 46 games against non-conference teams dating back to late in the 2006 season. UNC's only losses over that span came at Navy in 2007, against Ohio State at a neutral site and at home against Navy (NCAA Tournament first round) in 2008 and at Notre Dame in 2009. In Joe Breschi's two seasons as head coach, the Tar Heels are 22-1 against non-conference teams.

CAROLINA'S DOUBLE DIGIT SCORING GAMES

UNC has scored at least 10 goals in a game in 19 of its last 24 contests dating back to a 10-9 overtime win against Johns Hopkins on March 28, 2009. UNC was in double digits in the final eight games of the 2009 campaign and it scored 10 or more goals in 11 of its 16 games last season.

TAR HEEL EMO WAS RANKED FIRST NATIONALLY IN 2010

UNC's extra-man offense unit was the nation's most productive in 2010. Carolina scored 27 goals on 49 extra-man opportunities for a percentage of .551 to lead the nation. Carolina's EMO percentage was the second best in school history. UNC's school record is .586 set in 1985 (41 of 70). Prior to last year, the second best percentage was .479 in 1987 (34 of 71).

FOUR TAR HEELS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAS

Four players on the 2011 University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team were named preseason All-Americas by Face-Off Yearbook and Inside Lacrosse. Attackman Billy Bitter (Manhasset, N.Y.) was named a first-team All-America while senior defenseman Ryan Flanagan (West Islip, N.Y.) was also accorded first-team status. Junior midfielder Jimmy Dunster (Cos Cob, Conn.) earned second-team preseason All-America honors and junior defenseman Charlie McComas (Parkton, Md.) was tabbed for the third team.

TRIO OF TAR HEELS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-ACC

Face-Off Yearbook and Inside Lacrosse tapped three players as preseason All-ACC Team members -- senior attackman Billy Bitter, senior defenseman Ryan Flanagan and junior midfielder Jimmy Dunster.

CURRENT TAR HEEL CAREER MULTI-POINT, MULTI-GOAL, MULTI-ASSIST GAMES

Billy Bitter -- 19 multi-goal games (1 in 2008; 11 in 2009; 7 in 2010); 21 multi-assist games (5 in 2008; 8 in 2009; 8 in 2010); 33 multi-point games (7 in 2008; 14 in 2009; 12 in 2010).
Logan Corey¬ -- 1 multi-assist game (1 in 2009); 1 multi-point game (1 in 2009).
Matt Davie -- 1 multi-goal game (1 in 2010); 1 multi-point game (1 in 2010).
Jimmy Dunster -- 7 multi-goal games (3 in 2009, 4 in 2010); 3 multi-assist games (3 in 2009); 14 multi-point games (7 in 2009; 7 in 2010).
Marcus Holman -- 5 multi-goal games (5 in 2010); 1 multi-assist game (1 in 2010): 9 multi-point games (9 in 2010).
Jeff Muscatello -- 1 multi-assist game (1 in 2010); 1 multi-point game (1 in 2010).
Mark Staines -- 1 multi-point game (1 in 2010).
Thomas Wood -- 11 multi-goal games (11 in 2010); 4 multi-assist games (1 in 2009; 3 in 2010); 12 multi-point games (1 in 2009; 11 in 2010).

UPDATED SINGLE GAME CAREER HIGHS

Billy Bitter -- Goals: 8 vs. UMBC, 5-9-2009; Assists: 4 vs. Denver, 2-14-2009; 4 vs. Lehigh, 2-20-2010; 4 vs. Robert Morris, 4-17-2010; Points: 9 vs. UMBC, 5-9-2009; Ground Balls: 9 vs. Maryland, 3-21-2009.
Michael Burns -- Ground Balls: 9 vs. Duke, 5-22-2010; Face-Offs Won: 15 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010; Face-Off Percentage: .714 vs. Dartmouth, 3-19-2010; Caused Turnovers: 3 vs. Johns Hopkins, 3-28-2009.
Logan Corey -- Shots: 2 vs. Detroit Mercy, 3-3-2009; Assists: 2 vs. Detroit Mercy, 3-3-2009; Ground Balls: 2 vs. Lehigh, 2-20-2010; 2 vs. Princeton, 3-16-2010; 2 vs. Dartmouth, 3-19-2010.
Matt Davie -- Goals: 2 vs. Delaware, 5-16-2010; Points: 2 vs. Delaware, 5-16-2010.
Jimmy Dunster -- Shots: 14 vs. Virginia, 4-10-2010; Goals: 4 v. Duke, 5-22-2010; Assists: 3 vs. Princeton, 3-16-2010; Points: 5 vs. Princeton, 3-16-2010; Ground Balls: 4 vs. UMBC, 5-9-2009.
Ryan Flanagan -- Ground Balls: 6 vs. Notre Dame, 3-8-2009; 6 vs. Virginia, 4-4-2009; 6 vs. Duke, 5-17-2009; 6 vs. Princeton, 3-16-2010. Caused Turnovers: 5 vs. Ohio State, 4-11-2009; 5 vs. Jacksonville, 2-6-2010.
Marcus Holman -- Shots: 7 vs. Navy, 2-25-2010; Goals: 4 vs. Navy, 2-25-2010; 4 vs. Maryland, 3-27-2010; Assists: 3 vs. Robert Morris, 4-17-2010; Points: 5 vs. Maryland, 3-27-2010; 5 vs. Robert Morris, 4-17-2010; Ground Balls: 3 vs. Bryant, 2-13-2010; 3 vs. Navy, 2-25-2010; 3 vs. Maryland, 3-27-2010; 3 vs. Johns Hopkins, 4-3-2010; 3 vs. Virginia, 4-10-2010.
Chris Hunt -- Ground Balls: 8 vs. Duke, 4-26-2009; Caused Turnovers: 3 vs. Detroit Mercy, 3-3-2009. Emmit Kellar -- Ground Balls: 2 vs. Marist, 3-18-2008.
Milton Lyles -- Ground Balls: 5 vs. Virginia, 4-10-2010; Caused Turnovers: 2 vs. Duke, 3-10-2010.
Chris Madalon -- Saves: 14 vs. Virginia, 4-10-2010; Ground Balls: 6 vs. Lehigh, 2-20-2010; 6 vs. Navy, 2-25-2010.
Greg McBride -- Ground Balls: 4 vs. Jacksonville, 2-6-2010.
Charlie McComas -- Ground Balls: 8 vs. Jacksonville, 2-6-2010; 8 vs. Lehigh, 2-20-2010; Caused Turnovers: 3 vs. Denver, 2-14-2009; 3 vs. Johns Hopkins, 3-28-2009.
Jeff Muscatello -- Shots: 2 vs. Navy, 2-25-2010; Assists: 2 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010; Points: 3 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010; Ground Balls: 2 vs. Detroit Mercy, 3-3-2009.
Kevin Piegare -- Ground Balls: 2 vs. Jacksonville, 2-6-2010; Caused Turnovers: 2 vs. Bryant, 2-13-2010; 2 vs. Lehigh, 2-20-2010.
Ed Prevost -- Shots: 3 vs. Dartmouth, 3-19-2010.
Steven Rastivo -- Saves: 8 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010; Ground Balls: 4 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010.
William Scroggs -- Face-offs Won: 2 vs. Bryant, 2-13-2010; 2 vs. Dartmouth, 3-19-2010.
Mark Staines -- Shots: 2 vs. Ohio State, 4-11-2009; 2 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010; Points: 2 vs. Jacksonville, 2-6-2010; Ground Balls: 7 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010; Caused Turnovers: 4 vs. Maryland, 3-21-2009; Face-Offs Won: 7 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010; 7 vs. Duke, 5-16-2010.
Cam Wood -- Shots: 3 vs. Bryant, 2-13-2010; 3 vs. Johns Hopkins, 4-3-2010; Ground Balls: 2 vs. Delaware, 5-16-2010.
Thomas Wood -- Shots: 9 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010; Goals: 5 vs. Duke, 3-10-2010; 5 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010; Assists: 3 vs. Lehigh, 2-20-2010; Points: 6 vs. Duke, 3-10-2010; 6 vs. Ohio State, 5-8-2010; Ground Balls: 5 vs. Lehigh, 2-20-2010.