James Petracca

Position:
Goalkeeper
Height:
5-7
Weight:
167
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Manhasset, N.Y.
High School:
Manhasset

Coach Joe Breschi on James Petracca
•James has really come into his own after a solid freshman year.
•I think getting that experience the second half of last season was big for him.
•Had tremendous success in the fall. He improved saving the ball. He's improved his quickness and his outlets.
•Learned last fall to better manage the defense in front of him.

Pronunciation Guide: puh-TRACK-uh

2009 (Freshman): Played in 10 games last season...started the last six games of the season after Grant Zimmerman saw his season end with an injury against Virginia...played 411 minutes and had a save percentage of .494 and a goals against average of 11.53...his last five starts were all against teams ranked in the Top 10...finished with a 4-3 goalkeeper record...was in double digits in saves three times with 12 against Virginia, 13 against Ohio State and 14 against Duke in the ACC Tournament...had a career high six ground balls against Maryland in the ACC Tournament...had four ground balls against Ohio State and three in three other games...garnered recognition on the 2008-09 ACC Academic Honor Roll...had the highest GPA on the team in his first semester at Carolina.
Community Service & Leadership: A Rising Star in the Carolina Leadership Academy in 2009-10...volnteers at the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill...also works with Carolina Dreams, a program helping terminally ill children at North Carolina Children's Hospital.
Prep: Graduated from Manhasset High School in June 2007...played lacrosse for four years there as a goalkeeper...was coached by Bill Cherry...also played linebacker and fullback on the football for four years...captained both the football and lacrosse teams...won all-county honors as a linebacker on the football squad and as a goalie on the lacrosse team...honorable mention All-America in lacrosse...played in the Long Island Empire Top 50 Game...participated in the 2005 Vail Shootout tournament...played on lacrosse team which won 2004 state title, 2005 Nassau County championship and 2006 John Jay Games.
Personal: James Michael Petracca is the son of Michael and Raissa Petracca...was born December 13, 1988 in Mineola, N.Y. ...has a pair of brothers, Gavin, 22, a senior attackman on the Tar Heel lacrosse team, and Brian, 17.

Let's Play 20 Questions with James Petracca
Section #1: Lacrosse
1. The best thing about being a Tar Heel lacrosse player is fresh gear and having a family of 50.
2. My favorite thing about playing for Coach Breschi is his positivity and the family atmosphere he emphasizes.
3. Since my last competitive season, the part of my game I've worked on the most is my composure.
4. My best friend on another college team is Ryan Young at Maryland.
5. My best attribute as a lacrosse player is heart.
Section #2: Hobbies
1. My favorite video game is Fight Night Round 3.
2. My favorite road trip bus movie is "Point Break."
3. If I could play another sport at UNC it would be football.
4. If I received free concert tickets via a radio promotion I hope I could see the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
5. The one interest/hobby I have that people would be very surprised to know is I like to cook and bake.
Section #3: Food
1. My ideal tailgate would be a spread that included Bone in Ribeye Steak, Whipped Sweet Potatoes with melted marshmallow, Spinach, and just picked fresh fruit.
2. Other than water, my favorite beverage is Pineapple Peach Mango Juice.
3. I am allowed to enter a room with unlimited snacks, one room has salty stuff the other sweet stuff? Which room do I enter? Both, but sweet is always better than salty.
4. My favorite food made by a relative is my Mom's Chicken Cutlets.
5. If I could buy a down-on-his-luck friend a meal, I'd take him/her to the northern coast of California for a homemade meal overlooking The Pacific Ocean.
Section #4: Personality
1. If I possessed the gift of time travel, I would go to the time of Christ.
2. My most prized possession is my life.
3. My ITunes library includes 2,714 Alternative, Rock, Reggae, Rap and Pop songs.
4. In a perfect world where making money was not a consideration my dream job would be hand-stringing hammocks on Fiji and surfing everyday.
5. The most interesting person I've met in my time at UNC is still being decided because there are so many interesting people to meet at such an amazing place.

James Petracca's Stat Lines

Year	GP/GS	MIN	GA	SVS	PCT	GB	SF
2009	10/6	411:01	79	77	.494	22	255
Totals	10/6	411:01	79	77	.494	22	255

2009 Goals Against Average: 11.53; 2009 Won-Loss Record: 4-3; Career Highs: Saves--14 vs. Duke, 4-26-2009; Ground Balls--6 vs. Maryland, 4-24-2009; Shots Faced-41 vs. Duke, 4-26-2009.