Bucknell Men's Lacrosse Topped by No. 15 North Carolina

Tuesday, March 12

Chapel Hill, N.C.

4 p.m.

Bucknell University

2-5

#15/- North Carolina

5-2

Bucknell

North Carolina

Photo by: JEFFREY A. CAMARATI

Bucknell Men's Lacrosse Topped by No. 15 North Carolina

3/12/2019 6:10:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Bucknell men's lacrosse team was topped by No. 15 North Carolina, 12-7, on Tuesday at the new UNC Lacrosse Stadium.

The Bison (2-5, 1-1 Patriot League) stayed within striking distance for most of the contest before the Tar Heels (5-2, 0-0 ACC) pulled away by netting four of the final five goals. North Carolina was led offensively by Andy Matthews and William Perry, who each posted a hat trick and a helper.

For Bucknell, Christian Klipstein matched his season-high total with 14 saves. It was the fifth time he reached the double digits in saves this season. Alston Tarry netted a hat trick in the first half, making a diving play to complete it with just one second left to play. Tom Smith added two goals while Jarett Witzal went 12-for-22 on faceoffs.

After the Tar Heels took an early 2-0 lead, Tarry found the back of the net twice in less than a minute to even the score at the first quarter's 6:55 mark. North Carolina responded by scoring four of the next five goals to build a 6-3 advantage with 2:58 on the clock in the second quarter. Tarry beat the buzzer to pull the Bison back within two entering the intermission.

Smith's first goal made it a 6-5 game at the third quarter's 10:41 mark. That was as close as Bucknell would come, as North Carolina answered with strikes at the 9:54 and 8:07 marks to push its lead up to 8-5. Though a Will Yorke strike drew the Bison back within two with three minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Tar Heels ultimately closed out the game on a 4-1 run.

Reed Malas and Drew Wellington tied for the team lead with four ground balls. Wellington also matched fellow freshman Reid Delanois, who made his first career start, with two caused turnovers.

Overall, North Carolina doubled up Bucknell in the second half, 6-3. The Tar Heels held advantages in shots (41-27), shots on goal (26-16) and ground balls (33-26) while the Bison won the faceoff battle (12-10) thanks to Witzal's efforts.

This was Bucknell's first meeting with North Carolina since 2014 and fifth overall. The Tar Heels, who were ranked 15th in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches' Poll and received votes in the Inside Lacrosse Media Listing this week, stretched their winning streak over the Bison to four games.

North Carolina was Bucknell's third ranked opponent of the 2019 campaign; the Bison previously faced No. 3 Maryland (6-11) on Feb. 2 and No. 11/10 Ohio State (13-16) on Feb. 23 in road action.

Bucknell next resumes Patriot League play at Boston University on Saturday, March 16 at 2 p.m.