University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Albany
Balanced Attack Downs Albany, 20-9
March 6, 2016 | Women's Lacrosse
CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina's women's lacrosse team fell behind in the opening minutes to Albany but seized control with a 10-2, first-half scoring run, cruising past the Great Danes, 20-9, on Sunday afternoon at Fetzer Field.
Molly Hendrick and Marie McCool each had four goals and an assist to lead the Tar Heel attack. Aly Messinger had three goals and two assists and Olivia Ferrucci had two goals and two assists. Sammy Jo Tracy had two goals, one assist and 13 draw controls.
Kelly Devlin scored her first two goals of the season, while Sydney Holman had a goal and an assist. Carly Reed and Devin Markison scored single goals, and Ela Hazar and Gianna Bowe had one assist apiece.
The Great Danes got four goals from Dakotah Savitcheff, a goal and two assists from Alie Jimerson and a goal and an assist from Emma Powlin. Rachel Bowles, Sarah Martin and Amanda Obenshain added goals, and Julie Cryderman and Emily Mizer had assists.
The Tar Heels out-shot Albany, 34-18, and won 22 of 30 draws in the contest. Carolina had 22 ground balls to UA's 14, and Albany committed 34 fouls to UNC's 15. Ten of the Tar Heels' 20 goals were assisted.
The Tar Heels fell behind, 2-0, in the early going before replying with a 10-2 scoring run to close the first half with a 10-4 lead. Carolina scored the first two goals of the second half, building a 12-4 lead. After Albany scored back-to-back goals to make it 12-6, Carolina put it away with six consecutive goals in less than six minutes, opening up an 18-6 advantage.
“I thought we settled down a little bit after some challenges early in the game,” Tar Heel head coach Jenny Levy said afterward. “Once we settled down, we were fine. I'm happy to see those challenges. I want to know more about my team and how they're going to work through those situations.
“Moving the ball is something we've been working on and stressing all week. We've got a lot of really capable players. I think when you watch great lacrosse teams, one of the things that sticks out is their ball movement and their trust in each other. I think it builds trust to move the ball and also opens up plays. To have 10 assists today, including all sorts of different assists, whether it's transition or settled or off out-of-bounds plays – that shows the diversity we can continue to build upon offensively.”
Carolina will return to action with its Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Saturday March 13 at 1 p.m. at Virginia.
