Chris Gray scores four in UNC men's lacrosse's season-opening 19-6 win over Colgate

The No.10 North Carolina men’s lacrosse team (1-0, 0-0) scored 14 goals in the first half in its 19-6 domination of Colgate (0-1, 0-0) to open the 2020 season in Chapel Hill on Saturday.

What happened?

UNC got on the board quickly after junior Chris Gray scored the team’s first goal just under three minutes into the game. The Boston University transfer quickly followed that up with another score less than a minute later to go up 2-0.

Goals by Gray (4), senior Justin Anderson (2) and sophomore Brian Cameron (1) put North Carolina's lead at seven by the end of the first quarter. 

Anderson opened the second quarter by scoring his third goal of the game, becoming the second Tar Heel to earn a hat trick that afternoon. 

Cameron made the score 9-0 before the Red Raiders ended UNC's chances of a shutout, however, North Carolina responded with two straight goals from senior William Perry.

UNC's advantage became 13 going into halftime after first-year Lance Tillman and senior Tanner Cook put their names in the scoring column by combining for three goals. 

After scoring the first goal of the second half, Perry became the third Tar Heel of the afternoon to net a hat trick. Colgate got its second score of the game off of a rebound, cutting the lead to 16-2 midway through the third quarter. 

Sophomore Nicky Solomon became North Carolina’s fourth hat trick of the day, scoring two consecutive goals, adding on to an already impressive lead. 

With the Tar Heels' younger reserves getting their chance to play, Colgate outscored UNC 4-1 in the fourth quarter.

Who stood out?

In his UNC debut, Gray was phenomenal from the start. He scored four of the team’s first six goals and added two assists. 

A 2019 Tewaaraton Award nominee, he comes to Chapel Hill with hefty expectations. He was named an Inside Lacrosse Preseason Media First-Team All-American as well as a member of the Preseason All-ACC Team.

Gray delivered for his team on Saturday against a Colgate team that he is very familiar with, facing off against the Red Raiders in the Patriot League last year.

When was it decided?

The match was a blowout from the beginning. The Tar Heels kept the ball on Colgate's side of the field for most of the game, getting off 31 shots on goal throughout the afternoon.

Stout defending for UNC and solid goalkeeping by sophomore Caton Johnson contributed to a sound defensive performance for North Carolina. As a group, UNC grabbed 14 total saves and was able to keep its opponent from applying too much pressure, helping ensure the blowout victory. 

Why does it matter?

Colgate opened its season on the road against a top-10 ACC team last year and beat them.

History did not repeat itself on Saturday. 

North Carolina started its season with a dominating performance, led by its group of talented upperclassmen. Four players got hat tricks for a well-rounded performance from the Tar Heels. UNC proved its ability to play like a top-10 team, controlling the game from the start.

When do they play next?

The Tar Heels will be back in action when they host Mercer on Saturday, Feb. 8, at noon. 

@ryanheller23

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com