June 21, 2006

TOKYO, JAPAN - The North Carolina men's lacrosse team finished the competitive part of its 2006 tour to Japan for the International Lacrosse Friendship Games Wednesday afternoon with four 30-minute matches, ending their stay in Japan with a 6-1-1 record.

The Tar Heels played eight games in a span of five days and will earn a well-deserved day off Thursday for sightseeing in Tokyo. Some traveling party members are making the three-hour bus trip to the famous Mt. Fuji on Thursday morning before taking the bullet train back to Tokyo, a trip of only 30 minutes.

In Wednesday's action, the Tar Heels played four matches in four hours against the University of Tokyo, Keio University, which boasts the No. 1-ranked college team in Japan, Waseda University and Meijigakuin University. Coach John Haus' emptied his bench to keep players fresh, playing all 34 players throughout the four games played today. Four Tar Heel players did not make the trip to Japan because of other commitments and another five are with the team but unable to play because of injuries.

UNC started Wednesday with an 8-4 victory over Tokyo University. Freshman Matthias McCall and junior Sam Wagner led the Tar Heels with two goals each in the opening match. The Tar Heels also reaped rewards from single goals by sophomore Rob Driscoll, senior Billy Staines, freshman Bart Wagner and freshman Michael Burns. Freshman Bobby McAuley had two assists as did Bart Wagner and sophomore Nick Tintle and Michael Burns each had a single assist.

The Tar Heels battled Keio to a 3-3 tie with Keio scoring with one second remaining in the match to earn the deadlock. UNC's goals in the match came from senior Ryan Tolson, sophomore Rob Driscoll and freshman Michael Burns. Freshman Bobby McAuley had UNC's only assist of the match.

Carolina's third match of the day came against Waseda University, a 4-2 UNC victory. Four different Tar Heels had goals in the match. The goals came off the sticks of sophomore Rob Driscoll, sophomore Rob Driscoll, senior Andrew McElduff and freshman Bart Wagner. Bart Wagner and senior Sean Link had assists for Carolina.

Carolina's long day ended with a 10-1 victory over Meijigakuin University. Senior Sean Link and senior Drew Habeck each had a pair of goals. The other UNC goals came from freshman Bobby McAuley, junior Sam Wagner, junior Ben Mark, sophomore Tim McCall, freshman Michael Burns and freshman Matthias McCall. Senior Andrew McElduff and freshman Michael Burns each had two goals for UNC. The other assists came from senior Ryan Blair, junior David Ryan, freshman Bobby McAuley, junior Sam Wagner and sophomore Nick Tintle. Nine of UNC's 10 goals in the final match of the trip were assisted.

After the four games, UNC was hosted to a farewell party at the Ohi Field & Park Clubhouse Complex. The party was co-hosted by the Japanese Lacrosse Association and the various university squads the Tar Heels played on the last two days.

After tomorrow's day off, UNC's traveling party will leave Tokyo's Narita Airport on American Airlines flight No. 176 headed to Dallas-Fort Worth. Departure time is 12:25 p.m. With the time change UNC will arrive at Raleigh-Durham International Airport later Friday afternoon around 4:30 p.m.