Tar Heels Top No. 15 High Point

Tuesday, February 16

Chapel Hill

2:00 PM

North Carolina

3-0

High Point

1-1

High Point

North Carolina

Sophomore Andrew Tyeryar won 18 of 20 face-offs against High Point on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

February 16, 2021 | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Second-ranked North Carolina held on for a 17-15 men's lacrosse win over No. 15 High Point Tuesday on a sunny afternoon at Dorrance Field. Playing under clear skies for the first time this season, the Tar Heels improved to 3-0 with their second win of the year over a ranked team.

The teams will face off again in Chapel Hill on Feb. 27 in their originally-scheduled meeting. Tuesday's game was a hastily-arranged reschedule after UNC's original opponent, Bellarmine, paused activity late last week due to Covid protocol.

"I give High Point a ton of credit," UNC coach Joe Breschi said. "I know it was a quick turnaround replacing Bellarmine for a Tuesday game."

The Tar Heels got off nearly twice as many shots as the Panthers – a season-high 67 to 35 – but a career day by HPU keeper Antonio Arcona helped keep the game close. Arcona made 18 saves on the day, including eight in the first quarter alone.

UNC held a 30-5 advantage in faceoffs won, with sophomore Andrew Tyeryar 18-20 on the day and junior Zac Tucci 12-15.

"We put immense pressure on them offensively, we just didn't can a ton of our opportunities," Breschi said. "Their goalie was exceptional – he had 18 saves and it felt like he had 30. We didn't shoot great but I give them a lot of credit for making those saves. Defensively we were good at times and sometimes we didn't play great. And sometimes your best defense is winning the faceoff x and being 30 of 35, starting possessions with the offense we have, we expect to score more and give up less."

Senior Chris Gray, who was announced as the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week an hour before the game started, led UNC with seven points on three goals and four assists. Tanner Cook had a season-high three goals and added two assists, and senior William Perry had a hat trick for the second game in a row. Jacob Kelly had three goals and added an assist.

The Panthers scored 35 seconds into the game and led 5-3 after that first period, but the Tar Heels took the lead for good in the second. After winning eight of nine faceoffs in the first quarter, they took nine of 11 in the second.

Cook and Kelly both had second-quarter hat tricks to highlight an eight-goal period, and UNC led 11-7 at halftime.

Carolina exploded out of halftime with four quick goals including three within a 20-second period that made the score 15-7. But High Point reeled off the next six in a row, including three by Brayden Mayea, to pull within two – 15-13 – heading into the fourth quarter.

UNC scored the first two of the fourth quarter, and the Panthers answered with two of their own, but couldn't get closer than the 17-15 final score. Mayea scored his team's final goal, and his fifth of the day, with a minute to play and his team a man up.

"They're an excellent team, they put a lot of pressure on us, and I was really proud of the way we came away with the win," Breschi said. "At the end of the day, we have the utmost respect for them, their program, their coaching staff. I think faceoffs were the difference in the game."

Carolina returns to action on Sunday with the team's first road game of the season, a trip to face Richmond. Game time against the Spiders is 2 p.m.