CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The High Point University men's lacrosse fell to No. 14 North Carolina on Wednesday night at Dorrance Field.
Jack VanOverbeke finished with a hat trick while
Brayden Mayea had four points on two goals and two assists.
Parker Green posted a season-high 17 saves in goal for HPU.
Site: Dorrance Field
Score: High Point 9, No. 14 North Carolina 16
Records: High Point (6-4, 0-0 A10), No. 14 North Carolina (6-3, 1-1 ACC)
"Hats off to UNC, they are a very talented and well-coached group," said head coach
Jon Torpey. "As for our program, I am very proud of the effort and resilience the guys showed as they battled back in the second half."
High Point was the first to strike as
Hunter Vines bounced in a goal before UNC countered with one of their own.
HPU took the 2-1 advantage as
Nick Rizzo got space at X and hit
Brayden Mayea in front of the crease for an open look.
The Tar Heels answered with the equalizer three minutes later and went ahead 3-2 with 5:57 left in the quarter. After a few empty possessions, Mayea caused a Tar Heel turnover near midfield and brought the ball back into the attacking third for the Panthers, finding VanOverbeke to tie the game again.
With two minutes to play, UNC answered back with three consecutive goals to take the 6-3 lead into the second quarter.
The Panthers responded with a goal to open the second period as Mayea found
Isiah Moran-Weekes for his first goal of the night.
UNC used a 4-0 run to extend its lead, 10-4, with 8:44 left in the half. The Panthers answered with another goal from VanOverbeke to get back within five with 4:51 remaining.
Two more goals from North Carolina pushed the deficit to seven for High Point with two minutes left in the half. HPU came up empty on its final possession and went into halftime trailing, 12-5.
High Point was first to strike in the second half as Rizzo found VanOverbeke with the shot clock winding down.
Jack Sawyer followed up with his first goal of the night one minute later to get back within 12-7 with 11:26 left in the quarter. UNC added another to their total with 5:27 remaining, but HPU responded as Rizzo less than a minute later to stay within 13-8.
Both sides kept the ball out of the goal for the remainder of the period as
Parker Green made five saves over the next seven minutes of play. Green finished the night with 17 saves, his season high.
The Tar Heels kept the Panthers off the board until the 3:24 mark in the fourth quarter, using the opportunity to take a 15-8 lead. Mayea added his second goal of the night late in the period to close out scoring for High Point.
"We have some things to work on before conference play next week, but this group has made some impressive strides," added Torpey. "I look forward to watching us continue to develop."
Up Next: High Point takes a pause for over a week until Atlantic 10 conference play starts up. The Panthers will travel to UMass on Saturday, April 1
st, to open the conference slate.
#GoHPU x #A10MLAX
