May 10, 2004

CHAPEL HILL -- The University of North Carolina women's lacrosse team received disappointing news on Sunday when it was left out of the 2004 NCAA Tournament, head coach Jenny Levy said on Monday morning. Bids to the 16-team NCAA field were announed on Sunday evening.

The Tar Heels (9-7) were ranked No. 12 in last week's Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association national poll, and had hoped for a bid after a road win at No. 9 Dartmouth (10-5) on Saturday.

"I am very disappointed for our players and our seniors," Levy said. "We play one of the toughest schedules in the nation, with all seven of our loses to teams ranked in the Top 10. We hoped that a win on Saturday would make a strong enough case for us to get in."

Carolina played a very challenging schedule, as eight of UNC's 16 games came against teams in the NCAA Tournament field. In addition, eight of the Tar Heels' 16 games came against teams ranked in the IWLCA poll at the time of the game. The young Tar Heels went 1-7 in those games, but improved as the year progressed.

In its final three games of the season, Carolina lost at Maryland by two goals, lost to Duke by one goal in the ACC Tournament and defeated Dartmouth on the road. Maryland, Duke and Dartmouth are all hosting NCAA Tournament games on Thursday May 13.

"We understand that we had opportunities this season to eliminate a doubt whether we belonged in the field," Levy said. "I'd hoped that we had done that by beating Dartmouth, and anyone who was in Hanover last weekend felt the playoff-like intensity. I was extremely proud of our players for rising to the occasion and proving that we belonged in the tournament."

Despite the disappointment, Levy and the Tar Heels are excited about next season. Nine of 12 starters and seven of the team's top eight scorers return for Carolina in 2005.