Men's Lacrosse Opens Season Against Richmond And Colgate

CHAPEL HILL - The No. 4 ranked North Carolina men's lacrosse team will open its 2022 campaign this weekend when the Tar Heels host Richmond on Friday at 5:00 pm and Sunday against Colgate at 11:00 am. Both games will be played at Dorrance Field. UNC is 44-20 all-time in season openers and has won 23 straight, dating back to the 1998 season.

Game Information
Opponent: Richmond (0-0, 0-0 SOCON)
Date/Time: Feb. 11, 5 p.m.
Location: Dorrance Field, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Watch: ACC Network
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast

Opponent: Colgate (0-0, 0-0 Patriot League)
Date/Time: Feb. 13, 11 a.m.
Location: Dorrance Field, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Watch: ACC Network Extra
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast

Looking Back
UNC put together a historic 13-3 season in 2021 as they made their first trip to Championship Weekend since 2016 and 14th in school history. The Tar Heels fell to ACC foe and eventual national champion Virginia in a close 12-11 loss.

The Tar Heels edged Duke 15-12 to claim a share of the ACC championship and close out the regular season at Kenan Stadium. UNC last shared the regular-season title in 2016.

North Carolina ranked number one in the country last season in scoring offense (16.31) and turnovers per game (12.50). The Tar Heels also ranked number two in points per game (24.94) and scoring margin (5.81).

Series History vs. Richmond
The Tar Heels and Spiders have met five times in the programs' histories, with the Tar Heels holding a slight 3-2 advantage. Last year in Richmond, the teams faced each other, with UNC earning the 14-9 win. The first meeting between the schools took place in 2015, with the Tar Heels winning 16-11.

Series History vs. Colgate
The Tar Heels and the Raiders first squared off in 1999, with UNC picking up the 17-8 victory. The two teams have faced each other four times, with the Tar Heels winning all of the meetings. UNC last faced Colgate in 2020 taking the 19-6 win.

Gray Watch
Graduate student Chris Gray led UNC and the ACC in goals with 49 last year. His 42 assists led the Tar Heels and were second-most in the ACC. He also set a program record for points in a single season with 91. For his stellar play on and off the field, he was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year, ACC Men's Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and First Team All-America. He was also selected as a 2021 Tewaaraton Award Watch List Finalist. He was recently named USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Player of the Year, All-America by both the USILA and Inside Lacrosse, and will be an early favorite for the 2022 Tewaaraton Award.

Home Field Advantage
North Carolina is scheduled to play 10 out of 14 games at home, including seven straight to start the season. UNC will face five ranked teams at home, highlighted by No. 1 Virginia on Mar. 10 and No. 3 Duke on Apr. 2. The Tar Heels have played 10 home games three out of the last four seasons.

Star Freshman Class
Inside Lacrosse named North Carolina's 2021 freshman class the top-ranked incoming freshman class in the country. Eight out of the eleven incoming freshman competed in the 2021 Under Armour All-America Senior Game.

Inside Lacrosse 5-Stars:
No. 10 | Dewey Egan | Attackman | San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines HS
No. 11 | Paul Barton | Defenseman | Palo Alto, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep
No. 15 | Antonio DeMarco | Midfielder | Gwynedd Valley, Pa./William Penn Charter
No. 17 | Ty English | Midfielder | Burlington, Ontario/Culver Academy
No. 19 | Chase Mullins | Face-Off Midfielder | Glen Allen, Va./St. Christopher's School

Inside Lacrosse 4-Star Power 100:

Inside Lacrosse 4-Star Power 100:

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Players Mentioned

Paul Barton

Evan Bullotta

Antonio DeMarco

Dewey Egan

Ty English

Cooper Frankenheimer

Chris Gray

Ryan Levy

Grant Pierce

Johnny Schwarz

Tyler Schwarz

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University of North Carolina Athletics