The No. 12 North Carolina men’s lacrosse team (3-2, 1-0 ACC) fell to the Denver Pioneers (3-2), 9-8, at Dorrance Field Saturday morning.
What happened?
The Pioneers got on the board first with a goal, but UNC was quick with a response. Graduate attackman Logan McGovern wrapped around the right side of the goal and hooked in an unassisted goal to tie the game at one.
Back-and-forth they went as the two teams exchanged two more goals to even the game at three. Graduate attackman Sean Goldsmith scored both of the aforementioned goals for UNC, the first was assisted by graduate defensive midfielder Connor Maher and the second from senior attackman Lance Tillman.
Ultimately, the Pioneers would have the last say in the first quarter, scoring a goal up the middle with under a minute on the clock to claim a 4-3 lead heading into the second quarter.
The Tar Heels’ defense started the second quarter soundly, chasing loose balls and coming up with an array of saves at the net. But eventually the Pioneers efforts prevailed, leading to back-to-back goals to claim a 6-3 lead. Denver’s sixth goal marked the second of the day for Pioneer junior attackman Joshua Carlson.
UNC’s offense broke the ice on its ice cold second quarter, finally tallying its first game of the quarter with just over 1:30 to play in the half. The goal was scored by sophomore defensive midfielder Ty English, and was assisted by Tillman, his second of the game.
Following a stop, the Tar Heels rushed down the field senior defensemen Matt Wright caught it deep and dished it to Goldsmith who stuck it in the cage as time expired, claiming a hat trick in the process. That goal brought the Tar Heels within one at the half as Denver led 6-5.
McGovern evened the score to start the half with his second goal off a pass through a narrow window from behind the goal from first-year attackman James Matan.