North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Tar Heels Win at Virginia Tech, 12-10
April 12, 2005 | Women's Lacrosse
April 12, 2005
BLACKSBURG, Va. - The University of North Carolina women's lacrosse team held off a furious second-half rally by Virginia Tech as the No. 6 Tar Heels scored three unanswered goals, breaking a 9-9 tie, to win 12-10 on Tuesday afternoon in Blacksburg, Va.
The Hokies fall to 4-7 on the season and 0-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference while the Tar Heels improve to 11-3 overall and 2-1 in league competition.
Carolina was led by Allison Higgins' three goals. Jess Allen, Meg Freshwater and Erica LaGrow all added two goals to lead the way.
Sophomore Britt Faulkner netted a game-high four goals and added an assist for Tech. Junior Stephanie Jones tallied two goals and a game-high three assists. Lindsay Pieper added two goals while junior Katie Boyle and freshman Kady McBrearty chipped in a goal apiece. Sophomore Kate Schilling and freshman Natasha Fuchs each added an assist for Tech.
After facing a 7-3 halftime deficit, the Hokies ran off six of the next eight goals, pulling even with the Tar Heels on a Faulkner shot off a pass from Jones with 15:58 left. However, Allen, Higgins and Julia Ryan would each score a goal over the next seven minutes of play to pull ahead 12-9. Tech would net its last score with 49 seconds remaining as Faulkner scored on a free-position shot.
North Carolina opened the scoring 57 seconds into the game as LaGrow weaved through the Hokie defense and beat sophomore goalkeeper Nikki Schiavone for a quick 1-0 lead. Freshwater would add a goal just under two minutes later.
The score remained 2-0 until Tech broke through with its first goal of the game. Jones found Boyle, who unleashed a quick shot past goalkeeper Kristen Hordy. The Hokies would not score again until the 15:57 mark on a goal by Faulkner off a pass from Fuchs. However, the Tar Heels accounted for four goals between the two Tech scores. Pieper and LaGrow each tacked on a score before the half.
For the game, the Tar Heels amassed 34 shots to 19 for Tech. North Carolina also picked up 20 ground balls while the home team managed 15. Each team was hit with 14 fouls.
Boyle and Pieper each totaled two draw controls while sophomore Jamie Webster accounted for two. Schiavone forced a game-high three turnovers while Fuchs forced two.
Schiavone saved 12 Tar Heel attempts while Hordy accounted for five. Schiavone's last save was her 100th of the season.
Carolina will return to action when it hosts Maryland on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Henry Stadium in Chapel Hill.
