Tar Heels Open 2019 Men’s Lacrosse Season Saturday

Saturday, February 2

Atlanta, Ga. (Centennial High School)

1 p.m.

North Carolina

Mercer

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

January 31, 2019 | Men's Lacrosse

View 2019 UNC Men's Lacrosse Brochure Season Preview On YouTube

UNC and Mercer face off at Centennial High School

By: Dave Lohse

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Head coach Joe Breschi's 2019 edition of the University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team opens its regular-season campaign Saturday when the Tar Heels open against the Mercer University Bears at 1 p.m.

The Tar Heels and the Bears will face off at Centennial High School in Roswell, Ga. Game site will be the Centennial High School football stadium. The address for the school is 9310 Scott Road, Roswell, GA 30076.

Breschi returns a veteran unit from last year. UNC is hungry to improve upon its last two seasons' finishes as Carolina finished 8-8 in 2017 while making an NCAA Tournament appearance, falling at Albany in the first round. That team, however, rallied at season's end to win the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship, its first since 2013.

Last year did not go as well. UNC had a season of streaks, winning six in a row to open the season. Carolina then lost seven games in a row before finishing the 2018 season by beating ACC Tournament champion Notre Dame 10-9 in the season finale. Carolina did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.

David Metzbower returns as offensive coordinator for the fifth season. Kevin Unterstein joins the Tar Heel coaching staff as defensive coordinator after stints at Princeton, Denver and Hofstra.

Carolina has lost its 2018 scoring leader in Chris Cloutier (41 points last season), one of the most honored Tar Heels in history to graduation. The next six leading scorers from 2018 return, however. Senior attackman Andy Matthews had eight goals and a team-leading 26 assists last year for 34 points. Junior midfielder William Perry had 31 points on 22 goals and nine assists. Perry's 11 extra-man goals in 2018 set a school record in that category.

Senior attackman Timmy Kelly had 21 goals and seven assists last year for 28 points, junior midfielder Tanner Cook had 17 goals and three assists for 20 points, junior midfielder Justin Anderson had 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points and sophomore attackman Alex Trippi had seven goals and six assists for 13 points.

Kelly and Anderson will serve as co-captains for the 2019 team.

Watch Season Preview Video On Twitter

Carolina enters the 2019 season ranked 14^th in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association coaches poll. The Tar Heels are 15^th in the preseason Inside Lacrosse media poll.

On the defensive end of the field, UNC returns all four goalkeepers off the 2018 roster – Jack Pezzulla, Alex Bassil, Luke Millican and Patrick Sasser and add freshman Caton Johnson. Returning starters at close defense are seniors Jack Rowlett and Michael Nathan. Rowlett is a preseason All-ACC selection and a preseason Face-Off Yearbook third-team All-America. He is in his fourth year as a starter at Carolina.

Carolina also returns several veterans in the short-stick and long stick defensive midfield corps including Sean Morris, Cole Haverty, Cam Macri, Jake Peden, Parker Alexander and Jack Halpert. Charles Kelly and Ryan O'Connell return in the face-off circle for Carolina.

UNC has an outstanding group of freshmen, including five players who competed in the 2018 Under Armour All-America game.

Saturday's game in Atlanta will be a Homecoming game for two Tar Heels – senior midfielder Cole Haverty (Westminster Schools) and freshman attackman Nicky Solomon (Centennial High School).

2018 Roster With Links To Player and Coach Bios

2018 Schedule

A year ago, the Tar Heels and the Bears met in Kenan Stadium on February 28 with North Carolina emerging with a 14-7 victory. Chris Cloutier scored six goals against the Bears that day while eight other UNC players scored single goals. Jack Pezzulla started in the goal for UNC against Mercer, making 10 saves and allowing just four goals in 47:53 minutes of action.

After playing Mercer, UNC will play its next six games at home beginning with a matchup against Furman on Saturday, February 9 at 12 noon. This season's home games will be played at Kenan Stadium.