University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels & Terps Meet On ESPNU Saturday
March 24, 2016 | Men's Lacrosse
Tar Heels Head To College Park For Key Non-Conference Game
2016 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA MEN'S LACROSSE GAME NOTES
Game 9: North Carolina Tar Heels (5-3 overall, Ranked #13 USILA Division I Men's Lacrosse Coaches Poll, Ranked #12 Cascade/Maverik Media Poll) vs. Maryland Terrapins (4-2 overall, Ranked #7 USILA Division I Men's Lacrosse Coaches Poll, Ranked #6 Cascade/Maverik Media Poll)
Saturday, March 26, 2016
2:00 p.m. EDT
Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium
College Park, Md.
KEY LINKS FOR SATURDAY'S GAME
Live Stats: GoHeels.com
Television Information: ESPNU/WatchESPN; Booker Corrigan, Play by Play; Mark Dixon, Analyst
Webcast Information: WatchESPN
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE GAME NOTES AS PDF FILE
TAR HEELS HIT THE ROAD TO MATCH UP WITH TERRAPINS: 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 Maryland Terrapins at 2 p.m. EDT. The match will be played at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on the University of Maryland campus in College Park, Md. The Tar Heels come into the game with a 5-3 record after back-to-back wins over Manhattan 18-2 and Richmond 15-6. The Tar Heels are ranked 13th this week in the USILA coaches poll and 12th the Cascade/Maverik media poll. The Terrapins, 2015 NCAA finalists, are 4-2 so far this campaign. Their only losses have come at the hands of #2 Notre Dame and #3 Yale. Maryland is ranked seventh this week in the USILA coaches poll and sixth in the Cascade/Maverik media poll. Saturday's game will televised nationally live on ESPNU and Watch ESPN. Booker Corrigan will be the play-by-play announcer for ESPNU while Mark Dixon will be the analyst. A live stats link will be available on GoHeels, the official website of UNC Athletics.
PURCHASE UNC MEN'S LACROSSE TICKETS FOR FURURE HOME GAMES: Fans can purchase tickets for all UNC men's lacrosse gameS 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 Kenan Stadium gates. The upcoming home games against against Virginia April 10 and Notre Dame April 23 will be played at Kenan Stadium.
THE LAST TIME OUT FOR CAROLINA: Chris Cloutier had a career high seven points, Brian Balkam matched his career high with 12 saves and Stephen Kelly continued his exceptional play in the face-off circle as the 17th-ranked University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team defeated 19th-ranked Richmond 15-6 on March 19 under the lights at Fetzer Field. UNC won its second game in a row to improve to 5-3 on the season while Richmond saw its three-game winning streak end and it is now 6-2 on the campaign. It was Richmond's second trip to the Triangle region this season after it had beaten Duke 12-10 in Durham on March 7. After yielding the game's first goal, the Tar Heels ran off five scores in a row and were never headed. The closest the Spiders were able to draw to UNC in the second half was four goals after Carolina took a 7-2 lead into intermission. Cloutier was brilliant on the offensive end for UNC as he scored four goals and had a career high three assists leading to a personal best seven points in the game. Steve Pontrello and Patrick Kelly each had a hat trick for Carolina. Pontrello has recorded a hat trick in three straight games and now has six hat tricks in eight games this season. Patrick Kelly also had his second hat trick of the season. He also had one versus Denver. Both Michael Tagliaferri and Luke Goldstock had a goal and two assists for the Tar Heels. UNC outshot the Spiders 42-31 in the match. Mitch Goldberg scored two goals to lead the Spiders' offense. After giving up a goal on Richmond's first possession, Brian Balkam turned in the best performance of his career. The redshirt sophomore goalkeeper played 56 minutes, 46 seconds. He made 12 saves and allowed just six goals while also scooping up three ground balls. His 12 saves matched his career high set previously against Denver on March 5. Carolina had challenges hanging onto the ball, making 17 turnovers and going just 12 of 17 clearing, but Stephen Kelly's performance at the X more than made up for it as he dominated the circle for the third straight game. He won 17 of 23 draws on Saturday night and scooped up a game-high seven ground balls. Over the past three games against Massachusetts, Manhattan and Richmond, Kelly has won 50 of 64 face-offs while also recording 25 ground balls. For the season he has won 64.1 percent of his face-offs, going 107 of 167. He has won 395 career face-offs, the fifth most in school history.
KELLY SHARES ACC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD: North Carolina's Stephen Kelly was named Co-Defensive Player of the Week in the Atlantic Coast Conference on March 21, 2016. Kelly played an integral role for the Tar Heels in wins over Manhattan and No. 19 Richmond. He won 33 of 39 face-offs in the two games and scooped up 16 ground balls, allowing the Tar Heels to dominate possession in both victories. Against Manhattan, Kelly set the school record for face-off winning percentage in a game by winning all 16 of his face-offs. He came back with a tremendous performance against the Spiders, winning 17 of 23 draws and collecting a game-high seven ground balls as the Tar Heels took charge early and pulled away for a 15-6 win.
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.
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 Maryland, 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–Ryan Macri, RS So.; 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. MARYLAND SERIES NOTES: Maryland leads the all-time series with North Carolina 42-24. The Terps won both games in the 2015 season after the Tar Heels had won three games in a row in the series in 2012-14. The two teams met in the regular season last year in Santa Ana, Calif. with the Terps prevailing 10-8 in a game in which they led throughout. The two squads met again in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals with Maryland winning 14-7 after the Terps ran out of the gate to a big halftime lead. This is the first meeting between the two teams in College Park since March 23, 2013 when UNC upset a then #1-ranked Terrapins team 10-8.
UNC HEAD COACH JOE BRESCHI: Joe Breschi, UNC Class of 1990, leads the Tar Heels in his eighth season at Carolina. Breschi is 87-37 in his eight years at Carolina, a winning percentage of 70.2 percent. He also coached 11 years at Ohio State and is 179-100 overall in 19 seasons as a head coach. His overall winning percentage at Ohio State and UNC combined is 64.2 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:
• 87-37 in 8 seasons at UNC (70.2)
• 179-100 in 19 seasons overall (64.2)
• 17-16 in one-goal games at UNC
• 45-32 versus ranked teams at UNC; 42-5 versus unranked teams at UNC
• 70-15 versus non-conference teams at UNC
• 56-10 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 Maryland, UNC junior attackman Luke Goldstock has scored a goal in 25 straight games. That is the third longest active streak in the nation. Goldstock has scored 64 goals in that span which began on February 7, 2015. Denver's Connor Cannizzaro at 32 games and Syracuse's Dylan Donahue at 31 games have the two longest scoring streaks active in NCAA Division I. Goldstock's 25-game goal scoring streak equals the third longest streak in UNC lacrosse history. Goldstock has also recorded at least one point in 25 straight games which equals the 14th longest current streak in the nation. Over those 25 games, the Niskayuna, N.Y., native has scored 64 goals and added 28 assists for 92 points. His 25-game point scoring streak is 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 77 times in Joe Breschi's eight-year coaching tenure. UNC will face #7 Maryland on Saturday in its next game against a ranked opponent. UNC is 45-32 in those games, a winning percentage of 58.4 percent. Conversely and as expected, the Tar Heels are 42-5 against unranked opponents in his eight seasons for an outstanding winning percentage of 89.3 percent. Breschi is 87-37 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 92 of their past 111 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 71-15 against non-conference teams, a winning percentage of 82.6. 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 56-10 in home games in Coach Joe Breschi's eight years at the helm of the Tar Heels. That's a winning percentage of 84.8 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 281-122-2 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 69.6 percent winning percentage all-time in history in home games.
THE ALL-TIME RECORD: North Carolina has an all-time record of 472-285-2 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 94 of 124 games under Coach Breschi's direction dating back to the opening game of the 2009 season. Carolina is 80-14 in those 94 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.
Carolina Heads To Maryland Saturday for Key Non-Conference Game
TAR HEEL ODDS AND ENDS HEADING INTO MARYLAND GAME
As A Team
• Carolina's 20 goals in the season opener versus Michigan were the most it had scored since beating Manhattan 26-6 on March 7, 2015.
• UNC is currently 45-32 against nationally ranked teams in Coach Joe Breschi's eight years as head coach. The Tar Heels are 79-13 in games in which they have scored 10 or more goals under Coach Joe Breschi.
• The Tar Heels are 4-5 against #1-ranked teams during Coach Breschi's tenure.
• Carolina had won 17 straight home games before being upset by Hofstra 10-5 at Fetzer Field on February 20. That was the longest home winning streak since UNC won 26 games in a row in Chapel Hill more than two decades ago. That streak started with a 26-13 win over Duke on April 21, 1990 and was ended by Virginia on April 9, 1994 when the Cavaliers won 16-6 at Fetzer Field. The Tar Heels were 11-0 at home in 2015 and last lost in Chapel Hill on March 1, 2014 versus Notre Dame, 11-10, before falling to Hofstra.
• In 2015, Carolina recorded 10 or more wins for the seventh straight season, a school first. UNC had won 10 or more games in six straight seasons from 1989-94 for the only other time with as many as six successive double-digit win seasons.
• Carolina's 13 wins last season were the most since it went 13-4 in 2013. The last time a UNC team won more than 13 games in a season was 1993 when the Tar Heels finished with a 14-2 record.
• UNC's 15 goals against Johns Hopkins on February 28 were the most the Tar Heels had scored against the Blue Jays since May 29, 1993 when Carolina beat Hopkins 16-10 in the NCAA Tournament semifinals at College Park, Md.
• Carolina has been at its strongest this year in the 1st and 4th quarters. UNC has outscored its opponents 32-16 in the 1st quarter of games and 30-15 in the 4th quarter.
• Despite outshooting opponents 76-65 in the third quarter of games this year, UNC has been outscored 24-19 in the third period of games.
• UNC is currently clearing at a 91.2 success rate (62 of 68). The school record for successful clearing is 90.5 percent in 1988.
• North Carolina goalkeepers have made 65 saves this year but only three of those have come in the second quarter of games. UNC has allowed 16 second-quarter goals.
• Exactly one half of UNC's 108 goals this year have been assisted.
• As a team UNC ranks seventh nationally in scoring offense, seventh in man-down defense and eighth in ground balls per game.
2016 TAR HEEL PLAYER NOTES
Brian Balkam, Redshirt Sophomore Goalkeeper, St. James, N.Y.
• Has started the all eight games in goal for the Tar Heels. Has played 436 minutes and has a goals against average of 8.94.
• Had a career high 12 saves in games against Denver and Richmond.
• Recorded career high for ground balls in a game with five each against Hofstra and Denver.
• Started the first seven games of the 2015 season in goal. Played in 8 games overall last season.
• Did a solid job for the Tar Heels. Played 221 minutes and had a save percentage of .556 and goals against average of 7.61.
• Posted a 5-0 goalkeeper record.
• Season high for saves was seven versus High Point. Had six saves each versus Furman and Massachusetts and five against Johns Hopkins.
• Had a season high four ground balls in win over High Point.
Brett Bedard, Junior Short Stick Defensive Midfielder, Annapolis, Md.
• Key player in the short stick defensive midfield for UNC.
• Has played in all eight games. Had two ground balls and a caused turnover in win at Johns Hopkins.
• Played in 16 games for the Tar Heels last season.
• Scored goals against Manhattan and in the ACC Tournament semifinal versus Syracuse
• Had five ground balls and two caused turnovers. Had season high two ground balls versus Bryant.
Chris Cloutier, Sophomore Attackman, Kitchener, Ontario
• After playing in only two games as a freshman he has moved into starting lineup this year at attack.
• Ranks second on team in goals with 21, third in assists with 7 and second in points with 28.
• Scored five goals in season opener versus Michigan, the most in a game by a Tar Heel this season. Steve Pontrello also scored five goals versus Manhattan.
• Scored four goals in win at Johns Hopkins including two in the fourth quarter when the Tar Heels scored the last five goals of the contest to pull away for a 15-11 win. Scored the game-tying goal with 8:16 to play to spark the 5-0 scoring run.
• Has scored at least twice in six of eight games in 2016.
• Had a career high three assists, career high seven points and career high four ground balls versus Richmond. His four goals against the Spiders were one short of his career high.
Evan Connell, Junior Defenseman, Lutherville, Md.
• UNC's top long stick defensive midfielder. Has played in all eight games and has 15 ground balls and eight caused turnovers.
• Scored first goal since his sophomore year in season opener versus Michigan. Also had three ground balls and one caused turnover versus the Wolverines.
• Had two caused turnovers versus both Hofstra and Johns Hopkins.
• Matched his career high with five ground balls versus Massachusetts.
• Played in 17 games last year including seven starting assignments at close defense.
• His 32 ground balls were the most he has had in a single season (25 as a freshman in 2013). He had 13 caused turnovers, two short of his freshman year total.
• Matched his career high for ground balls in a game with five versus Massachusetts.
Timmy Gehlbach, Sophomore Short Stick Defensive Midfielder, Altamonte Springs, Fla.
• Played in just three games as a freshman but has moved into a key role this year in the short stick defensive midfield.
• Has played in all eight games.
• Had a career high three ground balls versus Massachusetts.
Luke Goldstock, Junior Attackman, Niskayuna, N.Y.
• Named to Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List.
• Preseason All-ACC selection.
• Face-Off Yearbook preseason honorable mention All-America honoree.
• Has started all eight games this season.
• Ranks third on the team in goals with 14 and third in points with 25. Leads Carolina in assists with 11.
• Opened the season with a two-goal, three-assist performance versus Michigan. Also had four ground balls versus the Wolverines.
• Had three goals and an assist versus Furman.
• Has had multi-point games in each of the last four Tar Heel encounters.
• Goldstock has scored a goal in 25 straight games. That equals the third longest goal scoring streak in UNC history. It is the third longest current active streak in the nation.
• Has also recorded a point in 25 straight games, equaling the 14th longest active streak in the nation. It matches the 15th longest point streak in UNC history.
• Passed the 100-point mark in career scoring with three points verus Richmond. Heads into Maryland game with 102 career points.
• 2015 USILA honorable mention All-America.
• Goldstock had 67 points last season after having just 10 as a freshman in 2014 when he was the first player off the bench at attack.
• Goldstock's 50 goals in 2015 were the most in a single season in UNC history. He broke Dennis Goldstein's previous school record of 47 goals in the NCAA win over Colgate. Goldstein's record had stood for 24 years.
• Goldstock's 67 points were the eighth most in a single season in UNC history.
• Goldstock has 18 career multi-goal games, eight career multi-assist games and 25 career multi-point games.
Tate Jozokos, Junior Short Stick Defensive Midfielder, Wolfeboro, N.H.
• Preseason first-team All-America selection by Face-off Yearbook at the short stick defensive midfield position.
• Preseason All-ACC selection as short stick defensive midfield.
• Has played in all eight games this year and has 16 ground balls and five caused turnovers. Had three ground balls each versus Michigan, Furman and Johns Hopkins.
• Was a third-team All-America by USILA in 2015.
• Jozokos had five goals and five assists last year after having just one assist as a freshman. His 10 points equaled the most by any UNC short stick defensive midfielder last year. Michael Tagliaferri also had 10 points.
• Jozokos had a goal, an assist and a career high five ground balls in the win over #1 Denver on February 27, 2015. He was named ACC and NCAA Defensive Player of the Week the following week.
• Jozokos had nine games with three or more ground balls. He had 43 ground balls on the season, a total which ranks fifth on the team.
Patrick Kelly, Senior Midfielder, Timonium, Md.
• Team captain.
• Winner of team's Athletic Director's Scholar Athlete Award for 2015-16.
• Has started all eight games in first midfield.
• Is tied for third on the team in goals scored with 14 and ranks fourth in points with 19.
• His 14 goals are just three shy of the 17 he scored in his first three years combined.
• Had two goals and an assist in both Furman and Johns Hopkins games.
• Notched hat tricks against both Denver and Richmond.
• Kelly had 13 points last season, three more points than he had as a sophomore.
• Played in all 17 games last season. Started the first 11 games on the first midfield unit and then ran in the second midfield contingent the rest of the year.
• Kelly has eight career multi-goal games, two career multi-assist games and 14 career multi-point games.
• Ran in Carolina's second midfield unit as a sophomore, notching five goals and five assists.
Stephen Kelly, Junior Midfielder, Lutherville, Md.
• UNC's lead face-off man. Has won 64 percent of his draws this year, going 107 of 167.
• Leads Carolina in ground balls with 51. Season high for ground balls is nine versus Furman, Johns Hopkins, Massachusetts and Manhattan.
• Set school record for face-off percentage in a game, winning all 16 draws in win over Manhattan on March 14.
• Has won 50 of his last 64 face-offs dating back to March 12.
• Was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week February 28 after winning 17 of 25 face-offs, scooping up nine ground balls and assisting on a goal in 15-11 win at Johns Hopkins.
• Tapped as USILA National Defensive Player of the Week on March 1 for his performance in the win over Hopkins and as NCAA.com National Defenseman of the Week.
• Won ACC co-defensive player of the week honors after combined performance against Manhattan and Richmond.
• Kelly won 214 face-offs last year, the fourth most in a season in UNC history.
• Led the 2015 team with 102 ground balls, the 10th most in a season in UNC history.
• Ranks fifth in career face-offs won at Carolina with 3395
• Has 11 games in his career with 15 or more face-off wins.
• Has three of the top 10 individual ground ball totals in a game in Tar Heels' history.
• Amongst active NCAA Division I players he is 11th in career ground balls, ninth in career face-off wins and ninth in career face-off attempts.
Timmy Kelly, Freshman Midfielder, Lutherville, Md.
• Has started four games of the season in the first midfield unit.
• Scored two goals in season opener versus Michigan
• Recorded goals in back-to-back games against Manhattan and Richmond.
Peyton Klawinski, Junior Midfielder, Memphis, Tenn.
• Running in second midfield unit for the Tar Heels this season.
• Scored a goal in each of the first three games of the season.
• Had a breakout year for the Tar Heels in 2015, being named the squad's most improved player.
• As a scout team player in 2014, he played in four games, scoring three goals. The sophomore midfielder from Memphis, Tenn., was elevated to the first midfield at the start of the 2015 season and responded with 19 goals and three assists for 22 points. Started 13 games last season in the first midfield unit.
• Has seven career multi-goal games and eight career multi-point games.
Jack Lambert, Redshirt Sophomore Long-Stick Defensive Midfielder, Cross River, N.Y.
• Has had a spectacular first half of the 2016 season. One of Carolina's leading long stick defensive midfielders.
• Has 17 ground balls this season, including a career high five versus Richmond, four against Furman and three in the win at Johns Hopkins.
• Missed his freshman year with a knee injury and played in only four games last year.
• Coach Breschi called him one of the most improved players on the team in the fall.
Ryan Macri, Red-shirt Sophomore Defensive, Hamilton, Mass.
• Moved into starting lineup in last three games after injury to Austin Pifani.
• Had three ground balls and caused turnovers versus Richmond.
• Had first career point with an assist versus Manhattan.
Kyle Mathie, Sophomore Defenseman, Smithtown, N.Y.
• Key player off the bench for the Tar Heels.
• Plas close defense for the Heels and has seen action in six games this year.
Jake Matthai, Senior Short-Stick Defensive Midfielder, Baltimore, Md.
• Senior captain.
• Has played in six games. Missed the Johns Hopkins and Richmond games with an ankle injury.
• Has 12 ground balls this season, five in the game versus Michigan and three each in games versus Furman and Hofstra.
• Named ACC Defensive Player of the Week after win over Michigan. Scored a goal versus Wolverines and had five ground balls.
• Recorded two assists in win over Furman.
• Had played in 52 games in his Tar Heel career before missing the Johns Hopkins game.
William McBride, Sophomore Midfielder, Baltimore, Md.
• One of the key players on the Tar Heel roster.
• Plays the wing on face-offs, sees action as short stick defensive midfield and also has run in second unit offensive midfield.
• Has seen action in seven games this year.
• Had two goals and an assist in win over Michigan.
Austin Pifani, Junior Defenseman, Roslyn, Pa.
• Named to Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List.
• Junior captain.
• Named to preseason All-ACC Team.
• Preseason first-team All-America on close defense by Face-off Yearbook.
• Started all 36 matches on close defense in his career before missing the past three games due to injury. Has not played since the Denver game on March 5.
• Has eight ground balls and five caused turnovers.
• Season high for ground balls is four versus Michigan. Had two ground balls and two caused turnovers versus Furman.
• 2015 USILA second-team All-America.
• 2014 USILA honorable mention All-America selection.
Steve Pontrello, Senior Attackman, Marlton, N.J.
• Started in the first midfield unit his first three years before moving to starting attack unit this year.
• Leads Carolina in goals with 23 and points with 29.
• Has recorded hat tricks in six of eight games this year including each of the last three games.
• Had a then career high four goals and career high five points in win over Michigan.
• Named ACC Offensive Player of the Week after the win over the Wolverines.
• Scored three times in win over Furman.
• Scored three goals in win over Johns Hopkins, all in the last 20 minutes of the contest.
• Had two goals and three assists at UMass and followed that with a career-high five goals against Manhattan.
• Notched another hat trick in win over Richmond.
• In his career he has 15 multi-goal games, two multi-assist games and 22 multi-point games.
Zach Powers, Senior Defenseman, Columbus, Ohio
• Has played in all 57 games in his Tar Heel career, the only Tar Heel senior to have done so.
• Has started all eight games this season on close defense.
• Has 11 ground balls, including four versus Hofstra.
• Has six caused turnovers. Had season high two versus Furman.
• Played in all 17 games last season, including 11 games as a starting close defenseman.
• Scored the first goal of his career in NCAA Tournament first round win over Colgate.
• Powers had 24 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers last season after having 11 and eight, respectively, in his first two years combined
Jordan Prysko, Redshirt Freshman Attackman, Calgary, Alberta
• First player off the bench in the attack unit for UNC.
• Has seen action in all eight games.
• Scored goals versus Michigan and Furman.
Mark Rizzo, Redshirt Junior Defenseman, Hewlett, N.Y.
• Team captain.
• Key player in long-stick defensive midfield and on man-down unit.
• Has played in six games this season.
Jack Rowlett, Freshman Defenseman, Burke, Va.
• Has moved into starting lineup as a true freshman in the close defense unit.
• Started seven games.
• Had a tremendous game at Johns Hopkins with six ground balls and two caused turnovers.
• Scored first career goal versus Richmond.
• His 19 ground balls leads the team other than face-off and goalkeeper position.
• Had five ground balls and season high four caused turnovers versus Massachusetts.
Shane Simpson, Junior Midfielder, Hamilton, Ontario
• Off to a great start in 2016. Has been running with midfield unit since Denver game.
• Has four goals and nine assists for 13 points.
• His nine assists are second on the team behind Luke Goldstock's 11.
• Matched career high for assists in a game with two versus Michigan.
• Named ACC Offensive Player of the Week after his performance in UNC's 15-11 win at Johns Hopkins. Had a career high for assists with three and points with five versus the Blue Jays.
• Had a goal and two assists in the fourth quarter when the Tar Heels outscored the Blue Jays 6-2 to emerge with a 15-11 victory.
• Matched career high for assists with three versus Denver.
Michael Tagliaferri, Redshirt Junior Midfielder, Danville, Calif.
• Starter in the first midfield unit. Played in the second midfield unit as a freshman in 2014 and then was an outstanding player on short stick defensive midfield as a sophomore in 2015.
• Has started all eight games this season. Has 11 goals and four assists for 15 points.
* Fifth on the team in points points and goals scored.
• Recorded two goals in win over Furman.
• Matched his career high with three goals in the win at Johns Hopkins. That was his third career hat trick.
• Had another hat trick against Denver.
• Matched career high for assists with two versus Richmond.
• Has a point in 7 of 8 games.
• Has six multi-goal games in his career and nine multi-point contests.
