University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Return Home To Play Spiders Saturday
March 18, 2016 | Men's Lacrosse
2016 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA MEN'S LACROSSE GAME NOTES
Game 8: North Carolina Tar Heels (4-3 overall, Ranked #17 USILA Division I Men's Lacrosse Coaches Poll, Ranked #17 Cascade/Maverik Media Poll) vs. Richmond Spiders (6-1 overall, Ranked #19 USILA Division I Men's Lacrosse Coaches Poll, Ranked #19 Cascade/Maverik Media Poll)
Saturday, March 19, 2016
7:00 p.m. EDT
Fetzer Field
Chapel Hill, N.C.
KEY LINKS FOR SATURDAY'S GAME
Live Stats: GoHeels.com
Television Information: ESPN3 Live; Kyle Straub, Play by Play
Webcast Information: WatchESPN
Purchase Tickets To UNC-Richmond Game: GoHeels.com Ticket Center
TAR HEELS BACK AT FETZER TO MEET RICHMOND: The University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team, under the direction of eighth-year head coach Joe Breschi, returns to action this Saturday when its plays the Richmond Spiders at 7 p.m. EDT. The match will be played at historic Fetzer Field on the University of North Carolina campus in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Tar Heels come into the game with a 4-3 record after concluding a two-game road trip with an 18-2 win at Manhattan last Monday in Riverdale, N.Y. The Tar Heels are ranked 17th this week in both the USILA coaches poll and the Cascade/Maverik media poll.
The Spiders come to Chapel Hill on a three-game winning streak and are 6-1 on the season with wins over VMI, Duke and Jacksonville in their last three games. Richmond is ranked 18th this week in the Cascade/Maverik media poll and 19th in the USILA coaches poll.
Saturday's game will televised nationally live on ESPN3. Kyle Straub will be the play-by-play announcer for ESPN3.
A live stats link will be available on GoHeels, the official website of UNC Athletics.
PURCHASE UNC MEN'S LACROSSE TICKETS: Fans can purchase tickets for all UNC men's lacrosse game in advance at the GoHeels.com Ticket Center. All tickets are $5 and seating is general admission. A reminder that at all UNC home games, Carolina students, faculty and staff will be admitted free of charge by showing their UNC One Cards at the Fetzer Field or Kenan Stadium gates.
The upcoming home game against Richmond will be played at Fetzer Field while the games against Virginia and Notre Dame next month will be played at Kenan Stadium.
THE LAST TIME OUT FOR CAROLINA: Steve Pontrello scored a career-high five goals to lead the #17 North Carolina men's lacrosse team to an 18-2 victory over Manhattan at Gaelic Park on Monday, March 14. Twelve different Tar Heels scored goals in the game as the Tar Heels broke a two-game losing streak and improved to 4-3 on the season. The Jaspers fell to 1-7 with the loss. Pontrello led the Tar Heels with five goals and an assist, notching career highs for both goals and points in a game. His previous high for goals was four against Michigan in the season opener on February 6. Luke Goldstock had two goals and two assists in the game and Patrick Kelly had two goals and one assist. Goldstock has now scored a goal in 24 successive games for the Tar Heels, a figure tied for the fourth longest scoring streak in Carolina history.
In addition to 12 different goal scorers, UNC had 10 different players record assists. Jesse Cuccia, Patrick McCormick, Andy Matthews and Cole Haverty scored their first goals in Tar Heel uniforms. Ryan Macri and Alex McGovern each had their first career assists. Stephen Kelly set a school record for face-off winning percentage in a game as he won all 16 draws he took and had a game-high nine ground balls, the fourth time this season he has scooped up nine ground balls in a game. Freshman Charles Kelly went 4-for-4 at the X as the Tar Heels won 20 of 22 face-offs overall.
UNC outshot the Jaspers 56-14, including 35-7 in the first half en route to taking a 14-1 lead at intermission. The Tar Heels also won the ground ball battle 35-16. Brian Balkam, Colin Reder and Eddie Gilman shared goalkeeping duties for the Tar Heels in the victory. Michael Zingaro made the start for Manhattan and made 17 saves while allowing 14 goals in 46:52 of action.
The Tar Heels got out of the gate quickly, scoring five goals in the opening 8:40 of the game to take the lead. Pontrello scored the first and third goals and assisted on the second, a tally by Chris Cloutier. Goldstock and McCormick also scored for the Tar Heels in the 5-0 scoring run. Pontrello scored his third goal of the quarter, an unassisted tally, with three seconds left in the first period, making it 6-1 Tar Heels.
The Tar Heels outscored the Jaspers 8-0 in the second period of action with Stephen Kelly notching his first goal of the season off the opening face-off of the quarter. At 8:07, Andy Matthews scored his first career goal off an assist by Ryan Macri as the Tar Heels hit double digits.
Carolina went on another scoring run later in the first quarter as Shane Simpson, Timmy Kelly, Luke Goldstock and Steve Pontrello scored in a span of 2:17 to make it 14-1 Tar Heels with 1:42 left in the first half. Pontrello notched his fifth goal just 30 seconds into the second half to finish off his six-point performance. Patrick Kelly got his second goal of the game off Luke Goldstock's second assist at 6:40 of the period. After a goal later in the quarter by Manhattan, UNC finished off the scoring with two goals in the fourth period. Jesse Cuccia scored an unassisted goal 50 seconds into the period and then a pair of Tar Heel freshmen combined to scored at 4:33 with Cole Haverty scoring off an assist by Alex McGovern.
CAROLINA OPENS WITH BIG WIN OVER MICHIGAN: The 2016 version of the University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team opened its season in impressive style February 6, defeating Michigan 20-10 before a crowd of 2,006 fans at Fetzer Field on a sunny and chilly afternoon.
UNC's restyled starting attack got five points each from senior Steve Pontrello, junior Luke Goldstock and sophomore Chris Cloutier as the Tar Heels led 10-6 at halftime and then broke the game open by scoring the first seven goals of the second half. Cloutier, stepping in at attack with the Tar Heels' minus Joey Sankey and Jimmy Bitter lost to graduation, had a tremendous first career start with five goals on seven shots. Pontrello had four goals and an assist, topping his career bests for both goals and points in a game. Luke Goldstock, picked up where he left off from last year, when he scored 50 goals, as he had two goals and three assists.
This early season game ended up being a shooter's day for both teams as the Tar Heels scored 20 goals on 43 shots and Michigan tallied 10 times on 25 shots. UNC led in ground balls 44-24 with eight Tar Heels claiming three or more grounders led by senior Jake Matthai's five. Carolina had a 20-14 edge in the face-off circle with junior Stephen Kelly winning 12 of 21 and freshman Charles Kelly going 7 for 12. The other thing that stood out on the stat sheet was Carolina's man-down defensive unit which limited Michigan to one goal on six attempts.
For the Tar Heels, William McBride had two goals and an assist and freshman Timmy Kelly notched his first two career goals. Patrick Kelly had a goal and an assist for the Tar Heels. William McBride's two goals in the game were a career high for the sophomore midfielder. Luke Goldstock scored a goal and recorded a point for the 18th straight game against the Wolverines.
TAR HEELS SWEEP ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS: No. 6 North Carolina swept the season's first set of weekly ACC honors, as senior attackman Steve Pontrello was tapped as the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week, and teammate senior short-stick defensive midfielder Jake Matthai was the ACC Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week. The awards were announced on Monday, February 8, 2016.
A three-year starter in the midfield, Pontrello opened his senior year with his first-ever starting assignment on attack and excelled with four goals and one assist for five points in the Tar Heels' 20-10 victory over Michigan. Pontrello scored four times on six shots. His four goals were a career high (previous was three) and his five points were also a career high (previous was four).
Matthai led the Tar Heels defensively in the season-opening victory over the Wolverines. He helped limit the Michigan midfield corps to just three goals in the game, led Carolina in a 13-for-14 clearing effort, and had a team high five ground balls as the Tar Heels dominated the ground ball game 44-24. He also scored his first goal of the season in the fourth quarter to finish off a strong offensive effort by Carolina.
CAROLINA'S BIG FIRST HALF LEADS HEELS PAST PALADINS: Five Tar Heel players combined for 12 goals and UNC dominated the face-off circle in the final three quarters to emerge with a 14-6 victory over Furman in men's lacrosse action at Fetzer Field February 13. A crowd of 602 fans braved a 30 degree temperature at sun-soaked Fetzer Field to take in the action.
Luke Goldstock scored in his 19th straight game to lead the Tar Heel offense with three goals and an assist. Steve Pontrello had three goals, Patrick Kelly had two goals and an assist and Michael Tagliaferri added a pair of goals. Peyton Klawinski and Jordan Prysko also scored for the Heels. Jake Matthai recorded a pair of assists. UNC's starting attack combined for eight goals and an assist while the first midfield unit had four goals and two assists.
UNC outshot the Paladins in every quarter and finished with a 50-23 edge. UNC also won the ground ball battle 40-25 with junior midfielder Stephen Kelly leading the way with nine ground balls. After the Paladins won six of nine face-offs in the first quarter, UNC won 12 of the last 14 face-offs in the match, including all eight draws in the second half. Kelly finished 14 of 22 at the X for the Heels. Brian Balkam started in goal for the Tar Heels and played 58 minutes, making nine saves and allowing just five goals. He also had three ground balls and one caused turnover.
TAR HEELS BOUNCE BACK WITH WIN AT #8 HOPKINS: The 10th-ranked North Carolina men's lacrosse team outscored No. 8 Johns Hopkins 5-0 over the last 8:16 of the game to earn a 15-11 victory over the Blue Jays before a crowd of 3,605 at Homewood Field and a national television audience on ESPNU on February 28.
Chris Cloutier had a four-goal game for the Tar Heels, just one shy of his career high for goals in a game, to lead the Tar Heels. Steve Pontrello had three goals for the Heels as he recorded his third hat trick of the 2016 season. Michael Tagliaferri matched his career high for goals in a game with his hat trick. Shane Simpson had two goals and a career high three assists while Patrick Kelly had two goals and an assist and Luke Goldstock scored a goal in his 21st successive game. That's the fifth longest active goal scoring streak in the nation.
UNC outshot the Blue Jays 40-37 and had a 36-29 edge in ground balls. Stephen Kelly had a tremendous day in the face-off circle for UNC as he won a season-high 17 of 25 draws, scooped up a game-high nine ground balls and also assisted on a goal. The Tar Heels won the game by coming from behind in the last nine minutes of play. Carolina tied the game with 8:16 to play as Cloutier scored off a Blue Jay turnover to tie the game at 11-11. Stephen Kelly would go on to win the next two face-offs and the Tar Heels scored on both possessions. Tagliaferri gave the Tar Heels the lead 12-11 off an assist by Shane Simpson with 6:57 to play. Simpson then notched an unassisted goal 38 seconds later to up the UNC lead to 13-11. Pontrello scored his third goal of the second half to give the Tar Heels separation at 2:04 and Cloutier finished off the scoring off an assist by Patrick Kelly with 22 seconds to play to give the Tar Heels a 15-11 victory.
The Johns Hopkins-North Carolina series continues to be one of streaks by both teams. Hopkins leads the all-time series 24-20 but UNC has now won five in a row versus the Blue Jays as well as nine of the last 10 meetings. UNC has also won four in a row over the Blue Jays at Homewood Field. The 15 goals scored by Carolina were the most by a UNC team against Hopkins since May 29, 1993 when the Tar Heels won 16-10 in the NCAA semifinals in College Park, Md.
KELLY NAMED NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: University of North Carolina junior midfielder Stephen Kelly (Lutherville, Md.) was named March 1 as the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Lids Team Sports Division I Defensive Player of the Week.
Kelly, who was named the previous day as the ACC Defensive Player of the Week, earned the national award after a brilliant performance in 11th-ranked North Carolina's 15-11 win at #8 Johns Hopkins on February 28.
Kelly won 17 of 25 face-offs in the match, including six of eight in the fourth quarter when the Tar Heels outscored the Blue Jays 6-2. After the Tar Heels tied the game on a Chris Cloutier goal with 8:16 to play, Kelly won back-to-back face-offs leading to goals by Michael Tagliaferri and Shane Simpson as the Tar Heels pulled away for the win.
Kelly's 17 face-off wins were a season high and his nine ground balls equaled his season high.
TAR HEELS SWEEP ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS: North Carolina received both Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse weekly awards following the Tar Heels' win at No. 8 Johns Hopkins on February 28. Junior midfielder Shane Simpson was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week, while junior midfielder Stephen Kelly earned Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Simpson registered a career-high five points on two goals and three assists while making several key plays during a fourth-quarter UNC rally. He assisted on Michael Tagliaferri's goal with 13:14 to play to put the Tar Heels ahead, 10-9, and found him again for the game -winning goal with 6:57 remaining. He then gave the Tar Heels a two-goal cushion, 13-11, 38 seconds later en route to the 15-11 victory.
Kelly won 68 percent of his face-offs against Johns Hopkins, including six of eight in the fourth quarter as the Tar Heels outscored the Blue Jays 6-2 in the final frame. With the game tied 9-9 going into the fourth, Kelly helped the Tar Heels dominate possession as they scored five unanswered goals to end the game. His 17 face-off wins were a season high and marked the eighth time in his career he has won as many as 15 in a game. He had a game-high nine ground balls, matching his season high.
UNC DEPTH CHART: Heading into the game at home against Richmond, the Tar Heel depth chart shapes up as follows.
Starting Attack-Luke Goldstock, Jr.; Steve Pontrello, Sr,; Chris Cloutier, So.
First Midfield- Patrick Kelly, Sr.; Michael Tagliaferri, RS Jr.; Shane Simpson, Jr.;
Second Midfield- Peyton Klawinski, Jr.; Patrick McCormick, So.; Timmy Kelly, So.; William McBride, So.
Close Defense–Austin Pifani, Jr.; Jack Rowlett, Fr.; Zach Powers, Sr.; Ryan Macri, RS So.
Goalkeeper-Brian Balkam, RS So.; Colin Reder, Fr. (Chief Backup)
Short Stick Defensive Midfielders–Brett Bedard, Jr.; Jake Matthai, Sr.; Timmy Gehlbach, So.; Tate Jozokos, Jr.
Long Stick Defensive Midfielder–Mark Rizzo, RS Jr.; Jack Lambert, RS So.; Evan Connell, Sr.
Face-Offs–Stephen Kelly, Jr.; Charles Kelly, Fr.
Reserve Attack-Jordan Prysko, RS Fr.
RETURNING ALL-AMERICAS: The Tar Heels have three All-America players returning from the 2015 team, having lost five to graduation.
Close defenseman Austin Pifani was named second-team USILA All-America last year while short-stick defensive midfielder Tate Jozokos was a third-team selection. Attackman Luke Goldstock, who scored a school record 50 goals last season, was an honorable mention choice last year.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA & ALL-ACC: Tate Jozokos, Austin Pifani and Luke Goldstock were all named to the preseason All-ACC Team chosen by the conference's five head coaches and sponsored by Face-Off Yearbook and Inside Lacrosse.
Face-Off Yearbook named Jozokos and Pifani as preseason first-team All-Americas going into 2016 while junior midfielder Peyton Klawinski was a third-team choice and Goldstock earned honorable mention status.
CAROLINA VS. RICHMOND SERIES NOTES: Saturday's game marks the second all-time meeting between North Carolina and Richmond on the men's lacrosse field. The Tar Heels won the initial meeting last year at Robins Stadium by a score of 16-11 on March 14, 2015.
LAST YEAR'S UNC-RICHMOND GAME: Second-ranked North Carolina broke open a close game with a 6-1 third-quarter run to power the Tar Heels past Richmond 16-11 at Robins Stadium Saturday afternoon, May 19, 2015 in men's lacrosse action. The Tar Heels' powerful attack unit combined for nine goals, nine assists and 12 ground balls in the game while the first midfield unit totaled six goals and four assists in a game that was nip and tuck for the entire first half. North Carolina sophomore attackman Luke Goldstock had six goals in the game to lead the Tar Heels. He also added an assist. The six goals matched his career high, which was set last Tuesday against Bryant in a 10-9 Tar Heel victory. In the past three games against Manhattan, Bryant and Richmond, Goldstock has combined to score 17 goals and he now has 29 goals on the season. Goldstock's 17 goals qual the most in a three-game stretch by any Tar Heel in UNC history and his 22 points fell one short of the school record for points in a three-game span. Goldstock has recorded hat tricks in six of Carolina's eight games this season.
Senior attackman Jimmy Bitter's five assists were a career high. He had four assists against both Denver and Manhattan earlier this year. Bitter ran his consecutive game streak with a point to 49, one short of the school record shared by Dennis Goldstein and Ryan Wade, a streak that is the second longest active one in the nation. Bitter did not score a goal in the game and saw his 21-game goal scoring streak end. He had scored a goal in every game he had played in since February 16, 2014. Nevertheless, he matched his career high for ground balls in a game with seven, which he had against Denver on February 27. He also caused two turnovers and ran his season assist total to 22, the most he has ever had in a single season in his Tar Heel career. Joey Sankey had three goals and three assists for the Tar Heels, running his successive game streak with a point to 44 in a row. That equals the third longest streak active in NCAA Division I and it matches the fifth longest streak in UNC history. Sankey recorded his fourth hat trick of the campaign and he has had six or more points in four games this season. He has 15 goals and 20 assists this season.
Peyton Klawinski had three goals and an assist for the Tar Heels and Chad Tutton had two goals and two assists. Klawinski matched his career high for goals in a game. He also had hat tricks against High Point and UMass earlier this year. Klawinski tied his career high for points in a game with four and Tutton had a season high for points with four. Midfielder Patrick Kelly had a goal and an assist and Michael Tagliaferri also scored for the Heels. UNC's passing game was in top mode on Saturday as the Tar Heels recorded assists on 87.5 percent of their goals (14 of 16). Carolina's shooting was also especially accurate as it placed 33 of its 44 shot attempts on goal (75 percent). Four different Spiders scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Richmond offense – Mitch Goldberg, Alex Hatem, Corey Palmer and Mickey Hofmeister.
UNC outshot Richmond 44-40 and had an edge in ground balls 49-31. Jimmy Bitter and Stephen Kelly each had seven ground balls to lead the Tar Heels. Starting defensemen Austin Pifani, Jake Bailey and Zach Powers each had four ground balls as did defensive short stick midfielders Michael Tagliaferri and Tate Jozokos. The four ground balls by Tagliaferri were a career high.
Kieran Burke had a solid game in goal for the Heels, making 15 saves and allowing 11 goals. He made 10 of his season-high 15 saves in the second half. The 15 saves by Burke were the most he has had in a game since March 15, 2014 when he recorded 15 versus Duke. Benny Pugh tied his school record with 17 saves for the Spiders. The teams were practically even at the X with UNC winning 16 and Richmond 14. Stephen Kelly took all 30 draws for UNC and Garrett Smith took all 30 for Richmond. Carolina committed a season high 19 turnovers in the game as the entire contest was played at break neck speed despite torrential rains throughout the contest. Richmond committed 20 turnovers, 13 of which were caused with nine different Tar Heels being credited with forced turnovers.
UNC HEAD COACH JOE BRESCHI: Joe Breschi, UNC Class of 1990, leads the Tar Heels in his eighth season at Carolina. Breschi is 86-37 in his eight years at Carolina, a winning percentage of 69.9 percent. He also coached 11 years at Ohio State and is 178-100 overall in 19 seasons as a head coach. His overall winning percentage at Ohio State and UNC combined is 64.0 percent. On April 3, 2015, UNC head coach Joe Breschi won his 80th game at Carolina. His 80th win came in Carolina's 10-6 triumph at Virginia.
Breschi Coaching Facts:
• 86-37 in 8 seasons at UNC (69.9)
• 178-100 in 19 seasons overall (64.0)
• 17-16 in one-goal games at UNC
• 44-32 versus ranked teams at UNC; 42-5 versus unranked teams at UNC
• 69-15 versus non-conference teams at UNC
• 55-10 in home games at UNC
ANOTHER DOUBLE DIGIT WIN SEASON UNDER COACH BRESCHI: Despite playing against the one of the nation's toughest schedule in 2015, the Tar Heels reached a double digit win total for the seventh successive year under the tutelage of head coach Joe Breschi, who was hired in June 2008.
Breschi is the first head coach in UNC history to post double digit win totals in each of his first seven years mentoring the Tar Heels. Other than Breschi, Dave Klarmann (1991-94) is the only other coach to win 10 or more games in each of his first four seasons. Under Breschi's leadership, UNC went 12-6 in 2009, 13-3 in 2010, 10-6 in 2011, 11-6 in 2012, 13-4 in 2013, 10-5 in 2014 and 13-4 in 2015.
The 2009-15 streak marks the first time UNC has won 10 or more games in a season in seven straight years. UNC won 10 or more games in six straight seasons from 1989-94.
GOLDSTOCK SCORING STREAKS: Heading into the game versus Richmond, UNC junior attackman Luke Goldstock has scored a goal in 24 straight games. That is the third longest active streak in the nation.
Goldstock has scored 63 goals in that span which began on February 7, 2015. Denver's Connor Cannizzaro at 31 games and Syracuse's Dylan Donahue at 30 games have the two longest scoring streaks active in NCAA Division I. Goldstock's 24-game goal scoring streak equals the fourth longest streak in UNC lacrosse history.
Goldstock has also recorded at least one point in 24 straight games which equals the 14th longest current streak in the nation. Over those 24 games, the Niskayuna, N.Y., native has scored 63 goals and added 26 assists for 89 points. His 24-game point scoring streak is the equal of the 15th longest in Tar Heel history.
CAROLINA'S MLL DRAFTEES: After having four players drafted this past January in the Major League Lacrosse Draft, UNC ranks in a tie for sixth all-time in total number of draftees with 31. Syracuse has had the most players drafted with 57, followed by Virginia with 49, Maryland with 47, Johns Hopkins with 44, Duke with 34 and North Carolina and Towson with 31. Massachusetts has had 26 draftees followed by Hofstra with 25, Cornell with 23, Georgetown with 23 and Loyola with 20.
UNC VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS UNDER COACH BRESCHI: North Carolina has played nationally ranked opponents 76 times in Joe Breschi's eight-year coaching tenure. UNC will face #19 Richmond on Saturday. UNC is 44-32 in those games, a winning percentage of 57.9 percent.
Conversely, the Tar Heels are 42-5 against unranked opponents in his eight seasons for an outstanding winning percentage of 89.3 percent. Breschi is 86-37 overall at Carolina in his eight seasons as head coach. During Breschi's tenure, UNC's only losses to unranked teams came at Ohio State in 2011, at home to Lehigh in 2012, at Pennsylvania in 2012, at home to Hofstra and at Massachusetts in 2016.
CAROLINA'S STELLAR MARK IN NON-CONFERENCE GAMES: UNC's record in non-conference games continues to be one of the best in the nation over the past nine seasons. The Tar Heels have won 91 of their past 110 games against non-conference teams dating back to April 15, 2006.
In Joe Breschi's eight seasons as head coach, the Tar Heels are a brilliant 70-15 against non-conference teams, a winning percentage of 82.5. The only non-conference losses were to Notre Dame in 2009, to Ohio State and Johns Hopkins in 2011, to Lehigh, Pennsylvania and Denver in 2012, to Massachusetts, Notre Dame and Denver in 2013, to Denver in 2014, to Maryland twice in 2015 and to Hofstra, Denver and Massachusetts in 2016
NEAR DOMINANCE AT HOME UNDER BRESCHI: UNC is 55-10 in home games in Coach Joe Breschi's eight years at the helm of the Tar Heels. That's a winning percentage of 84.6 percent. UNC's only home losses during Breschi's four-year tenure include regular-season and ACC Tournament games to Duke in 2009, a regular-season loss to Duke in 2011, an NCAA Tournament loss to Maryland in 2011, regular-season losses to Lehigh and Virginia and an NCAA Tournament loss to Denver in 2012, a regular-season loss to Duke in 2013, a regular-season loss to Notre Dame in 2014 and regular-season losses to Hofstra and Richmond in 2016.
The Tar Heels had won 17 successive home games under Breschi's tutelage before being upset at home by Hofstra on February 20.
CAROLINA IN HOME GAMES: North Carolina has an all-time record of 280-122-2 in home games. That included a perfect 11-0 record in 2015. In Joe Breschi's eight-year tenure as head coach he has twice led Carolina to unbeaten records at home – 7-0 in 2010 and 11-0 in 2015. Since 1949, UNC has had eight undefeated home seasons, two under the tutelage of Breschi. UNC has a 69.7 percent winning percentage all-time in history in home games.
THE ALL-TIME RECORD: North Carolina has an all-time record of 471-285-2 in the sport of men's lacrosse. That is a winning percentage of .623.
CAROLINA'S IMPROVEMENT IN ONE-GOAL DECISIONS: Prior to Joe Breschi taking over as head coach in 2009, UNC went 1-7 in games decided by one goal from midway through the 2004 season through the end of the 2008 campaign. Carolina has improved tremendously in one-goal games since Breschi arrived for the 2009 season. UNC is 17-16 in games decided by one goal over the past eight years.
FOUR TAR HEELS CHOSEN IN 2016 MLL DRAFT: Four seniors on the 2016 University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team were selected in the Major League Lacrosse Draft on January 22.
Senior attackman/midfielder Steve Pontrello was the first Tar Heel chosen in the draft. He was chosen in the third round by the Florida Launch with the draft's overall No. 25 pick.
Senior midfielder Jake Matthai was taken in the fifth round of the draft with the overall No. 41 pick by the Boston Cannons.
Senior defenseman Zach Powers was taken in the sixth round of the draft with the overall No. 50 pick by the Ohio Machine, based in Powers' hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In the seventh round with the 54th pick the Charlotte Hounds chose UNC senior defenseman Evan Connell.
CAROLINA'S DOUBLE DIGIT SCORING GAMES: In Coach Joe Breschi's eight years as head lacrosse coach at UNC, Carolina's success has in large part been tied to hitting the 10-goal plateau in a game. In fact UNC's 13-12 overtime loss to Denver on March 5, marked only the 14th time in Breschi's coaching tenure that the Tar Heels have lost when they have reached the 10-goal plateau. UNC has scored at least 10 goals in a game in 93 of 123 games under Coach Breschi's direction dating back to the opening game of the 2009 season. Carolina is 79-14 in those 93 games. As would be expected, in the 30 games under Coach Breschi's tutelage in which the Tar Heels have not reached the 10-goal mark, UNC has not fared nearly as well as when it scores in double figures. In fact, the Tar Heels' record in those 30 games is 7-23.
UNC CLAIMS ANOTHER SEASON OPENING WIN: The Tar Heels beat Michigan 20-10 in their 2016 season opener on February 6. UNC has won every season opener since the 1999 season, running its streak to 18 seasons in a row with the win over the Wolverines. Carolina's last loss in a season opener came on February 22, 1998 when the Tar Heels fell to Butler 13-12 at Fetzer Field.
