University of North Carolina Athletics
Bill has 18 goals and eight assists in eight games since the beginning of April.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Bill Peaking At Right Time
May 18, 2018 | Women's Lacrosse, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
For two years, Maggie Bill looked on from the sidelines, unable to help her team during NCAA Tournament play.
In the North Carolina women's lacrosse team's run to the 2016 national championship, Bill redshirted. She returned last season. But because of a left lower-leg injury sustained 13 games into the campaign, she could only watch as UNC lost to Navy in the NCAA quarterfinals.
So before Sunday's 17-8 win over Virginia Tech, 1,085 days had passed since Bill last appeared in an NCAA Tournament game, the 9-8 defeat against Maryland in the 2015 title game. She led UNC with three goals and two assists in that losing effort.
And Sunday, she picked up where she left off.
In helping the second-seeded Tar Heels win their 16th consecutive second-round NCAA Tournament game, Bill tied for the team lead with three goals. She also added an assist and collected a ground ball.
"I think everyone has a different role on the team, and once you get hurt, you just have a different role," said Bill when asked about last season. "I think I embraced that, and I was happy to just be around my teammates.
"But it's definitely a different kind of feeling being back on the field."
Sunday's game marked Bill's 15th of the season and just her 11th start.
With Bill coming off her injury, the UNC coaching staff elected to ease her back. She didn't play in the Tar Heels' first four games. And when she returned to the field, her minutes off the bench were initially limited.
"She had a little slower start at the beginning of the year, but we made that happen," Jenny Levy said. "Coach (Dean) Smith kept (Michael) Jordan down to a certain amount of points; well, we kept Maggie a little slower early in the season just because she was coming off that ACL, knowing that this time in the year she was going to peak."
Bill said it was frustrating at times working back into the rotation. But so far, Levy's strategy has paid off.
Entering Saturday's NCAA quarterfinal game against unseeded Northwestern, Bill has tallied 18 goals and eight assists in eight games since the beginning of April. Eight of those goals have come on just 10 shots over her last three games.
Perhaps Bill's greatest challenge in her return to the field was building chemistry with her teammates. She credits them for helping develop a strong rapport.
"It's been a struggle at some points," Bill said. "But I wouldn't want to play with any other teammates, and they've really made it easy for me, especially not being around in the fall and coming back from a major injury. I feel like I'm connecting really well with everyone."
That showed late in the first half of Sunday's game.
With about 10 seconds left before halftime, Bill received a pass from Taylor Moreno near midfield. Bill, also a member of the women's soccer team, sprinted 20 yards. She then saw Olivia Ferrucci streaking toward the goal and flung the ball about 30 yards downfield, where Ferrucci received it and scored just before the buzzer.
"I can't even put into words how amazing of an athlete she is," said Katie Hoeg of Bill. "Just her lacrosse ability has really picked up. Especially with her position change, being a midfielder and coming to attack, she's really transformed nicely and smoothly. She's really making good chemistry with everyone on the field.
"It's just amazing to have her back."
For two years, Maggie Bill looked on from the sidelines, unable to help her team during NCAA Tournament play.
In the North Carolina women's lacrosse team's run to the 2016 national championship, Bill redshirted. She returned last season. But because of a left lower-leg injury sustained 13 games into the campaign, she could only watch as UNC lost to Navy in the NCAA quarterfinals.
So before Sunday's 17-8 win over Virginia Tech, 1,085 days had passed since Bill last appeared in an NCAA Tournament game, the 9-8 defeat against Maryland in the 2015 title game. She led UNC with three goals and two assists in that losing effort.
And Sunday, she picked up where she left off.
In helping the second-seeded Tar Heels win their 16th consecutive second-round NCAA Tournament game, Bill tied for the team lead with three goals. She also added an assist and collected a ground ball.
"I think everyone has a different role on the team, and once you get hurt, you just have a different role," said Bill when asked about last season. "I think I embraced that, and I was happy to just be around my teammates.
"But it's definitely a different kind of feeling being back on the field."
Sunday's game marked Bill's 15th of the season and just her 11th start.
With Bill coming off her injury, the UNC coaching staff elected to ease her back. She didn't play in the Tar Heels' first four games. And when she returned to the field, her minutes off the bench were initially limited.
"She had a little slower start at the beginning of the year, but we made that happen," Jenny Levy said. "Coach (Dean) Smith kept (Michael) Jordan down to a certain amount of points; well, we kept Maggie a little slower early in the season just because she was coming off that ACL, knowing that this time in the year she was going to peak."
Bill said it was frustrating at times working back into the rotation. But so far, Levy's strategy has paid off.
Entering Saturday's NCAA quarterfinal game against unseeded Northwestern, Bill has tallied 18 goals and eight assists in eight games since the beginning of April. Eight of those goals have come on just 10 shots over her last three games.
Perhaps Bill's greatest challenge in her return to the field was building chemistry with her teammates. She credits them for helping develop a strong rapport.
"It's been a struggle at some points," Bill said. "But I wouldn't want to play with any other teammates, and they've really made it easy for me, especially not being around in the fall and coming back from a major injury. I feel like I'm connecting really well with everyone."
That showed late in the first half of Sunday's game.
With about 10 seconds left before halftime, Bill received a pass from Taylor Moreno near midfield. Bill, also a member of the women's soccer team, sprinted 20 yards. She then saw Olivia Ferrucci streaking toward the goal and flung the ball about 30 yards downfield, where Ferrucci received it and scored just before the buzzer.
"I can't even put into words how amazing of an athlete she is," said Katie Hoeg of Bill. "Just her lacrosse ability has really picked up. Especially with her position change, being a midfielder and coming to attack, she's really transformed nicely and smoothly. She's really making good chemistry with everyone on the field.
"It's just amazing to have her back."
Players Mentioned
Attacker/Midfielder
/ Women's Lacrosse
Attack/Midfield
/ Women's Lacrosse
Attacker
/ Women's Lacrosse
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