Big Day For Gray Lifts Carolina Over Mercer

Saturday, March 6

Chapel Hill

2:00 PM

North Carolina

6-0

Mercer

2-4

Mercer

North Carolina

Senior Chris Gray led UNC with a 10-point performance in Saturday's win over Mercer.

March 6, 2021 | Men's Lacrosse

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By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Behind a career day from senior Chris Gray, the North Carolina men's lacrosse team beat Mercer 16-8 Saturday afternoon at Dorrance Field. Gray finished with 10 points, his high as a Tar Heel, on six goals and four assists.

"I thought it was hard-fought – Mercer plays so hard and they're a tough team, especially with their terrific face-off guy, Ashton Wood," UNC coach Joe Breschi said. "Overall, it was a workman-type day. It just felt like a grind – nothing was easy, but that's OK because with our schedule moving forward, nothing is going to be easy."

The win boosts UNC's record to 6-0 heading into the start of Atlantic Coast Conference play this week. The Tar Heels take on Virginia Thursday evening in Charlottesville.

Chris Gray tied his career-high with 10 points today 👏👏👏 Check out all 6 of his goals and other highlights from the win over Mercer ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XKtokyMsIw
— UNC Men's Lacrosse (@UNCMensLacrosse) March 6, 2021

On a sunny afternoon at Dorrance Field, the Tar Heels scored the first three – by William Perry, Gray and Zac Tucci – and led throughout the game. The Bears (2-4) scored back-to-back goals late in the first quarter to make it 4-3, but Gray connected with Tanner Cook for a man-up goal 94 seconds before the end of the period, and it was 5-3 Tar Heels going into the second.

Cook scored off another assist from Gray to open the quarter and make it 6-3 for the home team. The Bears answered with a man-up goal by Collin Stewart to again pull within two, 6-4. After that Carolina gradually pulled away, with a goal from junior Nicky Solomon, then three in a row from Gray, who continued to add to his highlight reel.

"Chris Gray was sensational," Breschi said. "He did a great job of controlling us offensively and really stepping up when we needed him."

Gray's fifth goal came 49 seconds into the third quarter and put the Tar Heels up by six, 10-4. The Bears were never closer than five the rest of the way.

Ten Tar Heels had at least one point in the win. Gray's 10 equaled a career-high points total he hit twice during the two years he spent at Boston University but marked his highest since coming to Chapel Hill. Cook finished with two goals and two assists for four points. Senior Alex Trippi scored twice – once with a casual behind-the-back shot after a pass from Gray – for his second two-goal game in a row.

Beyond the plaudits for the offense, Breschi found plenty to like on the rest of the field as well.
"I was pleased with Zac Tucci at the face-off x," he said. "Their guy is one of the best in the country and he (Zac) did a great job at 11-15. Defensively we were sound – Will Bowen played another terrific game."

The Tar Heels a finished perfect 15-15 for clears and led 16-12 in faceoffs.

Freshman Collin Krieg picked up his sixth win in goal for UNC, making eight saves.

Following Thursday's game at Virginia, the Tar Heels play one more nonconference contest, hosting Air Force on March 20. Other than that, it's all ACC for the Tar Heels, starting with UVa on Thursday.

"I think at the end of the day we've got to have a sound clearing game vs. Virginia," Breschi said. "We've got to do the little things really well. It's going to be details and discipline on Thursday night that make the biggest difference."

The matchup starts at 7 p.m. and will air on ESPNU.