University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Boston College
Messinger Lifts UNC By BC, 14-13
March 22, 2014 | Women's Lacrosse
NEWTON, MASS. - Sophomore Aly Messinger scored a career-high five goals, including the game-winner on a free position try with 28 seconds to play, as top-ranked North Carolina (10-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) won on the road at fourth-ranked Boston College (7-2, 1-2) in women's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon. Messinger finished the game with five goals on seven shots, adding an assist for a career-high six points in addition to her five goals.
With the victory, Carolina improves to 10-0 this season and sets a new program record for the best start to a season. The 1998 team started the season 9-0 and was the previous best start in Tar Heel annals. Carolina has won 14 games in a row dating to last season, the longest winning streak in Carolina women's lacrosse history.
In addition to Messinger's career day, Carolina got big games from freshman Sydney Holman (three goals and one assist) and senior Abbey Friend (three goals). Freshmen Molly Hendrick, Maggie Bill and Carly Reed each scored one goal to complete the Tar Heel offensive attack.
The game was close throughout. Carolina took a 2-0 lead on goals by Reed and Messinger, then saw BC tie it with two goals in less than three minutes. It was back and forth for the rest of the first half until Hendrick and Bill scored back-to-back goals to close the half and give UNC an 8-7 lead at the break.
Carolina started to take control early in the second half, building its biggest lead of the day at 12-9 after consecutive goals by Friend in a span of 38 seconds with just over 18:00 minutes to play. The Eagles then scored three in a row to tie it at 12-all with 10:27 to play.
After a scoreless span of nearly seven minutes, Messinger scored an unassisted goal with 3:34 to go to put the Tar Heels up, 13-12. BC's Mikaela Rix scored to tie it at 13 apiece with 2:27 left. Messinger then scored her game-winner from the eight-meter arc with 28 seconds to go.
The Eagles out-shot the Tar Heels, 31-22, including 16-10 in the first half.
Megan Ward started in goal for UNC and played the first 19:08 (allowing six goals) before being replaced by Caylee Waters, who played the final 40:52 of the game and picked up the victory, allowing seven BC goals and making six saves.
Carolina will return to action on Wednesday night vs. Virginia Tech in Chapel Hill.
