University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Towson
Tracy Lifts UNC To 15-14 Win At Towson In Double OT
March 15, 2015 | Women's Lacrosse
TOWSON, MD. – Sammy Jo Tracy scored two goals in overtime, including the game-winner in the second OT, to lift No. 2 North Carolina to a 15-14 women's lacrosse win at Towson on Sunday afternoon. Tracy's game-winner came at the 1:12 mark of the second, sudden victory overtime period and gave Carolina its fifth victory in a row.
The win completed a 2-0, weekend road trip for the Tar Heels. UNC beat Albany, 10-6, in a neutral site game on Friday in Lutherville, Md. Carolina led by five goals early in the second half before Towson took a two-goal lead late in the contest. Aly Messinger scored with seven seconds left in regulation to force overtime and keep the game alive for Carolina.
Tracy finished with three goals on Sunday and was one of three Tar Heels to record hat tricks. Molly Hendrick had three goals and two assists, Messinger had three goals and one assist and Sydney Holman had two goals and two assists to lead the way. Brittney Coppa scored twice, while Sarah Scott and Marie McCool added single goals.
Andi Raymond led the Tigers with four goals and an assist, while Samantha Brookhart had a goal and four assists. Erika Cavallo scored three times for Towson. Emily Gillingham and Michelle Gildea both had two goals and an assist.
After the teams felt each other out early, the Tar Heels scored the last three goals of the first half to take a 6-4 lead into halftime. Carolina kept the momentum going after the break, getting unassisted goals from Holman, Messinger and Coppa to start the period and stake UNC to a 9-4 lead.
Towson proceeded to score seven of the game's next eight goals to take an 11-10 lead with 12:56 to go in regulation. McCool took a pass from Holman and scored for the Tar Heels to even the score at 11-all just over a minute later, only to see the Tigers scored two in a row to take a 13-11 lead with 5:49 to play.
The Tar Heels responded with back-to-back goals to force overtime, as Hendrick scored on a free position try with 3:53 left and Messinger scored unassisted with seven seconds on the clock.
Gillingham scored at the 4:21 mark of the first overtime, then Tracy scored unassisted with 46 seconds left to force the second OT. Just 1:12 into that sudden victory period, Tracy took a pass from Messinger and scored for the victory, evoking memories of her triple-overtime game-winner in the 2013 NCAA championship game.
Carolina totaled 16 ground balls to Towson's eight but also were whistled for 44 fouls to Towson's 23. UNC committed just nine turnovers in the double overtime contest while forcing 15 Tiger miscues. The Tar Heels outshot Towson, 32-24.
Tiger goalie Kelsea Donnelly played well in the cage, making 11 saves while facing the 32 UNC shots. Caylee Waters started for Carolina and picked up the win to improve to 7-1, playing 44:03 and making two saves while allowing six goals. Megan Ward played 23:09 off the bench and made a save while allowing eight goals.
Carolina will return to action next Saturday when it hosts Boston College in Chapel Hill.
Scoring:
UNC goals – Molly Hendrick 3, Aly Messinger 3, Sammy Jo Tracy 3, Sydney Holman 2, Brittney Coppa 2, Sarah Scott 1, Marie McCool 1
UNC assists — Hendrick 2, Holman 2, Messinger 1
Towson goals – Andi Raymond 4, Erika Cavallo 3, Emily Gillingham 2, Michell Gildea 2, Samantha Brookhart 1, Sarah Maloof 1, Gabby Cha 1
Towson assists —Brookhart 4, Maloof 2, Michelle Gildea 1, Gillingham 1, Breanna Hamm, Raymond 1
Shots: UNC 32, Towson 24
Ground balls: UNC 16, Towson 8
Draw controls: UNC 14, Towson 19
Turnovers: UNC 9, Towson 15
Goalkeepers: UNC –Caylee Waters (W, 7-1, 44:03 minutes, 6 goals allowed, 2 saves), Megan Ward (23:09 minutes, 8 goals allowed, 1 save); Towson – Kelsea Donnelly (L, 2-2, 67:12 minutes, 15 goals allowed, 11 saves)
