Games on Senior Night are supposed to be about showcasing the senior members of a team, but in No. 5 North Carolina’s (11-5) 19-5 rout of Michigan (1-13), a junior stole the spotlight.
Attack Marcus Holman was the fire behind UNC’s offense, scoring 10 points off six goals and four assists. Holman’s offensive explosion set a new career high for points scored in a game. His 10 points were the most scored by a Tar Heel since 1997. But Holman was quick to point out that his teammates were instrumental in his individual accomplishments.
“My teammates were doing a great job pushing it in the outside all day, taking opportunities when they presented themselves,” Holman said. “I was just lucky enough to be the recipient of a few good passes and I was fortunate enough to bury a few good shots.”
Holman’s career day was only one factor in UNC’s demolition of a Michigan team in its inaugural year as a varsity program.
Though tied 2-2 early in the first quarter, the Tar Heels quickly turned things around and emerged as the stronger team in the second and third quarters. Behind a 7-0 run spanning three different quarters, UNC gradually distanced itself from the Wolverines.
“I think we just kind of wanted to get in the groove a little bit and just play hard,” UNC coach Joe Breschi said. “I thought we played hard all day and I think we gave up some early goals that were unlike us. But we bounced back and started to settle in.”
Thirteen different Tar Heels netted goals. As a whole, the team took 53 shots to the Wolverine’s 20.
Breschi attributes UNC’s offensive success to the quick sliding of Michigan’s defense.
“The more teams slide against us, the more opportunities we’re going to have,” Breschi said. “We did a good job of moving the ball and playing unselfish lacrosse, which allowed us lay-up opportunities.”