University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
James Madison
Tar Heels Open 2016 With 11-7 Win At JMU
February 6, 2016 | Women's Lacrosse
HARRISONBURG, VA. – Second-ranked North Carolina (1-0) got four goals and an assist from Molly Hendrick and opened its 2016 season with an 11-7 win at James Madison on Saturday afternoon. Aly Messinger posted two goals and two assists and Sammy Jo Tracy had two goals and an assist for the Tar Heels, who improved to 17-4 in season openers and 5-2 against James Madison.
Freshman Olivia Ferrucci started her first college game and added a goal and an assist for the Tar Heels. Sydney Holman and Ela Hazar scored single goals. Marie McCool and Kelly Devlin had assists for UNC. Defender Caroline Wakefield joined Ferrucci as the only Tar Heel freshmen to be in the starting lineup versus JMU.
Jaci Gordon led the Dukes with two goals and an assist, and Leah Monticello had one goal and one assist. Elena Romesburg, Taylor Gress, Brooks Lawler and Kristen Gaudian each added single goals for JMU.
Junior Caylee Waters (1-0) started in goal for the Tar Heels and went the distance, making seven saves and allowing seven goals. Kaitlin Martindale played all 60 minutes in the cage for JMU and made 10 saves.
Carolina scored its first goal of the season just 1:44 into the game when Holman scored unassisted. JMU scored back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead three minutes later. The Tar Heels responded with five consecutive goals, including three by Hendrick, to take a 6-2 lead with 14:34 until halftime.
JMU scored two of the next three goals before the Tar Heels ended the half with three in a row for a 10-4 edge at the break.
After over 15 scoreless minutes by both teams to start the second half, Hendrick scored her fourth goal of the game with 14:43 to play. The Dukes scored three in a row late in the contest to close the final margin to 11-7.
Carolina will return to action next Friday evening at 6 p.m. at High Point.
