Women's lacrosse relies on defender Newton for Maryland win

For defender Meredith Newton, Saturday’s much-anticipated home date with No. 2 Maryland was a bit of a mixed blessing.

While the junior would only earn her second start of the season, she also had the unenviable task of marking Karri Ellen Johnson, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leading scorer.

With a little help from her teammates, Newton was able to keep Johnson under wraps through most of the contest, as the Tar Heel defense conceded just nine goals — well below the 14.75 the Terrapins had averaged prior to Saturday — in a 13-9 victory at Fetzer Field.

Although Newton started 18 of 21 games last season, she has mostly come off the bench for the Tar Heels this year after coach Jenny Levy converted former midfielder Kristen Carr into a defender.

But Levy felt that Newton’s patience and feel for the game made her the best candidate to stymie the efforts of Maryland’s most dangerous weapon.

“I just thought Meredith was our smartest defender to play on her because it really is not a physical battle,” Levy said of her decision to sit regular starter Katy Fitzgerald in favor of Newton. “It’s more of a mental battle.”

Though Johnson did manage to reach her 2.92 goals per game scoring average by notching three goals, one came from a free position shot after she drew a foul from UNC defender Taylor Chumney after dispossessing Chumney deep in the Tar Heel zone. Another came after Newton had switched off to cover another Maryland attacker.

Newton stuck with Johnson for nearly the entire game, making sure that the majority of Johnson’s attempts to score were of the harassed and hurried variety. In the event that Johnson was able to get a clean look at the goal, Newton was fortunate to be backed up by one of the nation’s best goalkeepers, senior Logan Ripley.

On her Senior Day, the 2009 National Goalkeeper of the Year offered yet another superlative effort. Ripley made 13 saves, tying a career high, including a pair of point-blank stops that prevented Maryland from tying the game at four midway through the first half.

“Logan was amazing,” Newton said. “Having her in the cage gives us so much more confidence, because we know she’s got our back.”

Newton was also pivotal in helping the rest of the back line handle an extremely physical Maryland attack unit. With the Tar Heels clinging to a 6-4 lead late in the first half, Maryland’s Laura Merrifield drew a blocking foul after a collision with a still-moving Carr and sent the UNC defender sprawling.

But on the ensuing free position attempt, Newton stripped the ball from Merrifield, allowing UNC’s Mia Hurrin to scoop up the ground ball and preserve the Tar Heels’ two-goal advantage.

“We’re not teaching dirty play, but we are teaching tough play,” Levy said.

After the game, Ripley found her trusty defender on the sidelines and engaged her in a long celebratory hug.

“You did so good!” Ripley told Newton.

It’s unlikely anyone would say otherwise.



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.