May 10, 2009

Bitter's School Record Eight Goals Rally UNC Past UMBC

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The sixth-ranked University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team rallied from only its second halftime deficit of the season as sophomore attackman Billy Bitter's school record-tying eight goals propelled the Tar Heels to a 15-13 win over ninth-ranked UMBC in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Fetzer Field Saturday afternoon. A crowd of 1,431 watched the game on a day when temperatures hovered around 90 degrees all afternoon.

North Carolina (12-5) advances to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship for the 21st time in its 24 NCAA appearances. UMBC, champion of the America East Conference, saw its season end at 12-4 with the loss.

North Carolina will meet Duke next Sunday in the quarterfinals at Annapolis, Md.'s Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The third-ranked Blue Devils (14-3) defeated 11th-ranked Navy 14-5 in the NCAA first round Saturday night at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C.

Carolina and Duke will meet for the third time this season next Sunday as the Tar Heels will be seeking to end a 10-game losing streak against the Blue Devils. Duke beat the Tar Heels 12-8 in the regular-season meeting at Kenan Stadium March 14. The teams met again in the ACC Tournament championship game at Kenan Stadium April 26 with the Blue Devils holding off a late North Carolina rally to prevail 15-13.

Duke Moves On With Win Over Navy

DURHAM, N.C.—Duke University scored the first 10 goals of the game and cruised to a 14-5 victory over Navy in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament tonight at Koskinen Stadium. The third-seeded Blue Devils held the Midshipmen scoreless for the opening 31:33 and outscored them 13-1 in the first three quarters.

Duke (14-3) improves to 15-12 overall in NCAA Tournament play and advances to the quarterfinal round for the third consecutive season and 10th time overall. The Blue Devils will take on ACC rival North Carolina for the third time this season in Annapolis, Md. on May 17 at 2 p.m.

“I’m at a loss for words,” head coach John Danowski said. “Nobody expects to go up 10-0 in the first round of playoffs, especially against Navy. I’m not so surprised at the 10, but certainly surprised by the zero. You just have to keep playing. We certainly knew that the Navy kids were not going to quit and they played a great second half and actually won the second half. So you have to tip your cap to the Midshipmen.”

Sophomore Zach Howell led the balanced Duke attack with two goals and a career-best three assists, tying his career-high of five points. Max Quinzani added a pair of tallies and a helper, while senior Ned Crotty finished with one goal and two assists.