Ara Atayan

Position:
Midfielder
Height:
5-9
Weight:
190
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Bronxville, N.Y.
High School:
Bronxville

2022 (Graduate): Did not see game action during the 2022 season

2021 (Senior): Appeared in four games for the Tar Heels • Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll

2020 (Junior): Opened the season with an assist and a shot on goal against Colgate • Added an assist versus Lafayette • Also saw game action against Mercer and on the road at Denver and Furman, taking two shots at Mercer and one at Denver • Remainder of season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic • Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll • Tar Heel Scholar-Athlete for the spring and fall semesters of 2019.

2019 (Sophomore): Appeared in nine games to combine for seven goals, three assists, three ground balls and a caused turnover • Opened the season with one shot at Mercer • Scored two goals, picked up a ground ball and caused a turnover against Furman • Had an assist and a ground ball against Harvard • Scored a season-high three goals against Johns Hopkins • Added a ground ball versus Denver • Had his second three-point game of the season with two goals and at assist against Marist • Took three shots against Bucknell and assisted on a goal • Took one shot against Syracuse in the ACC tournament opening round • Recipient of the team's Kevin Reichardt Award for most improved player • Named to the 2018-19 ACC Academic Honor Roll.

2018 (Freshman): Won the team’s top newcomer award for strength & conditioning • Earned Dean’s List honors in spring semester • Named to 2017-18 ACC Academic Honor Roll.

Prep: Attended Bronxville High School where he played for coach Tim Horgan from 2013-17 • Two-time team captain • Named to All-Section, All-League and All-Hudson Valley teams three times each • Member of 2014 Class C state championship lacrosse team • Led his squad to section finals four times • Team was 15-4 his senior season • A 2017 academic All-America • Won the Street Medal, the highest honor for a student-athlete at his school • Earned the David Ingalls Memorial Award • received citizenship award in the 10th grade • Earned Sage College Booth Scholar for success in the liberal arts • attended lacrosse camps since seventh grade • Played for Long Island Express club team coached by Mike Chanenchuk, Sr., and for Westchester Predators club team coached by Michael J. McCall • Helped organize a One Love Foundation event for his high school team which raised over $10,000 • Helped out with local youth lacrosse program (BYLA) • Played club lacrosse for Long Island Express for coach Mike Chanenchuck, Sr., and for the Westchester Predators coached by Mike McCall.

Personal: Ara Harry Atayan is the son of Christopher and Rene Atayan • Born April 16 in Manhattan, N.Y. • Has an older sister, Alina, who played lacrosse at Marquette University • Majoring in advertising and public relations • Attended UNC Lacrosse Camp since the seventh grade • Played club lacrosse for former Tar Heels Mike McCall and Matthias McCall.