Career Day For Anderson Helps Heels Hang On For Win At Denver, 15-13

Sunday, March 1

Denver, Colo.

2 p.m. ET

North Carolina

5-0

Denver

3-2

North Carolina

Denver

Photo by: Rebecca Lawson

Career Day For Anderson Helps Heels Hang On For Win At Denver, 15-13

March 1, 2020 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 4 North Carolina men's lacrosse team held on for a 15-13 win over the No. 11 Denver Pioneers on Sunday afternoon at the Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

With Sunday's victory, the Tar Heels break a two-game losing streak in the series and wins its second-consecutive game at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Carolina's 15 goals against the Pioneers are the most since their 20-7 victory in Chapel Hill in 2009. The matchup's 15-13 result also marks the most combined goals between the two teams since they scored 30 total goals in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Denver won that contest, 16-14.

Senior midfielder and tri-captain Justin Anderson highlighted the day with a career-best, seven points (5g, 2a), including a career-high, five goals. Carolina's depth in the offensive zone once again proved to be an issue for its opponent early in the game with eight different goal scorers and four players with at least two assists. North Carolina's perfect performance on the transition (18 of 18) undoubtedly helped the Tar Heel offense secure much-needed opportunities towards the end of the game.

The national leader in extra-man opportunities, the Tar Heels went two-of-three in EMOs. However, Carolina committed seven penalties – the team's most since 11 against Duke in 2019 – and Denver was able to take advantage of five of their seven man-up chances.

The Tar Heels remains undefeated with a 5-0 start to the 2020 season. Bill Tierney and his Pioneers fall to 3-2 on the season with 13-15 home losses in both of their ACC matchups – first to Duke on February 15 and now to Carolina.

Carolina breaks a two-game loss streak to the Pioneers to go up 11-7 in the all-time series. In the last five matchups between the two programs, the visiting team has left victorious.

Now 5-0, the Tar Heels head south to Furman University on March 6 before returning to Dorrance Field for a four-game home series.

Key Moments
» Carolina held Denver scoreless through the first quarter, going up 4-0 with four different goal scorers – Henry Schertzinger (from William Perry), Brian Cameron (from Justin Anderson), Harrison Schertzinger and Justin Anderson.
» The Tar Heels again had a different goal scorer for each of its five goals (three assisted) in the second period, their best offensive quarter of the game. Carolina created its largest lead of the day after going up 9-1 with 6:21 left in the half, but Denver responded with two goals to head into halftime trailing 9-3.
» For the third-straight quarter, each Tar Heel goal was scored by a different player while Chris Gray tallied both of his assists for the day. Carolina extended the lead to eight (13-5) by the end of the third.
» Carolina held on for the victory as Denver made a run in the fourth quarter, scoring eight goals to UNC's two. Justin Anderson's back-to-back goals for his career-best performance kept the Tar Heels in the lead as they ended up besting Denver by a two-goal margin.

Other Notable Individual Highlights
» Justin Anderson scored a career-high, five goals and had two assists for a career-high, seven points at Denver. Anderson previously scored a career-high three goals on three separate occasions, most recently against Colgate in the 2020 season opener. His previous single-game points record was five (3g, 2a) which he set against Richmond on March 14, 2018.
» Five other Tar Heels had multi-point games in the team's second ranked matchup of 2020. Chris Gray put up four points (2g, 2a) while senior midfielders William Perry (1g, 2a) and Tanner Cook (3a) each had three. Sophomores Nicky Solomon and Brian Cameron each had two goals a piece.
» William Perry matched his career-high assist total with two against Denver, marking the fifth time in his career with multiple assists.
» Tanner Cook also matched his career-high assist total with a hat trick of assists against the Pioneers. A season-high, Cook's three assists are the most since he assisted three goals against Mercer in the 2019 season opener.

Notable Team Achievements
» The Tar Heels totaled 15 goals – two man-up – and nine assists for 24 points on 43 shots. The team also combined for 33 ground balls and four Heels forced four turnovers in their second ranked matchup of the season.
» The Tar Heels' 15 goals against the Pioneers are the most since their 20-7 victory in Chapel Hill in 2009. Sunday's matchup also marks the most combined goals between the two teams since the teams faced off in the 2012 NCAA Tournament (30 goals). Denver won that contest, 16-14.
» UNC breaks a two-game losing streak in the series and wins its second-consecutive game at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.
» Carolina was perfect on the transition, successfully moving the ball into their offensive zone on all 18 of its clear attempts.
» A promising sign for Carolina's future, five sophomores scored seven of the team's 15 goals and four underclassmen forced all four of team's caused turnovers. Nicky Solomon and Brian Cameron had two goals a piece while Jacob Kelly, Henry Schertzinger and Harrison Schertzinger all scored a goal. Sophomores Kelly and Connor Maher each forced turnovers while redshirt freshman Will Bowen and freshman Matt Wright both had one CT.