Tar Heels Win, 14-10, at High Point

Friday, February 16

High Point, N.C.

4 p.m.

North Carolina

1-1

High Point

1-1

North Carolina

High Point

Kara Klages, Naomi Lerner and the Tar Heels forced 19 turnovers in the win.

Photo by: Brian Westerholt/Sports On Film

February 16, 2018 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Final Stats (.pdf)Photos

HIGH POINT, N.C.—Seventh-ranked North Carolina went on a 7-2 run in the first half and rode strong performances by Jamie Ortega, Marie McCool and Ela Hazar to win, 14-10, at High Point on Friday evening.

With the win, the Tar Heels improved to 1-1 this season and rebounded from last weekend's double-overtime loss at James Madison. High Point fell to 1-1.

Ortega and McCool each scored three goals and Hazar scored once while dishing out three assists to lead a balanced Tar Heel offensive attack. Marisa DiVietro had two goals and an assist, while Katie Hoeg and Gianna Bowe each scored twice. Kara Klages scored once.

Darla Poulin led all scorers with five goals for the Panthers, who also got three goals from Abby Hormes and four assists from Brooke Stevens.

"It was great to get back out on the field," Tar Heel head coach Jenny Levy said after the game. "We were ready to play after a tough loss last weekend. Every opponent gives us a different challenge and helps us to continue to get better and grow.

"We did a lot of great things on the field tonight, but it is early in the season and I know we will continue to improve on the details, specifically taking care of the ball and limiting our turnovers."

The Tar Heels turned it over 20 times to High Point's 19 miscues as both teams struggled to maintain offensive flow at times. Carolina won 18 of the game's 25 draw controls, led by McCool's career-high 11, and out-shot the Panthers by a 28-22 margin. Ground balls were 17-15 in favor of Carolina.

Elise Hennessey started her second consecutive game and picked up the win in goal for Carolina, playing the first half and allowing five goals while making four saves. Redshirt freshman Taylor Moreno played the second half and tallied three saves and five goals allowed.

Ortega got the scoring started for the Tar Heels with a goal in the opening minute, and the Panthers tied it at 1-1 four minutes later on a goal by Emory Gaeng. Just over a minute later, McCool scored on a free position try to make it 2-1 Tar Heels. Hazar scored a minute later on a nice fake to make it 3-1. HPU responded with a goal from Poulin off the ensuing draw, making it 3-2 UNC less than seven minutes into the game.

The Tar Heels then went on their 7-2 run to seize control of the game's flow and momentum with a 10-4 lead.

High Point scored to cut it to 10-5 at halftime, then Carolina started the second half with a 3-1 run to hold a 13-6 lead with under 10 minutes to go. Four late goals from High Point made the final margin 14-10.

Carolina will return to action on Sunday at noon for its home opener against Liberty. The game will be played at Kenan Stadium on the UNC campus. Fans attending the game are encouraged to enter through Gate 5.