Offense clicks once again for UNC men's lacrosse in convincing 25-8 win over Providence

Playing for the fourth time in nine days, the North Carolina men's lacrosse team took on the final leg of the gauntlet on Saturday against Providence.

Such a condensed schedule could have given the Tar Heels a number of reasons to look sluggish and move slowly on the offensive end, but the team raced out to an early lead and came away with a convincing 25-8 win over the Friars.

“I think we've matured a little bit, it's been a long week,” head coach Joe Breschi said. “Four games in nine days and it's been exhausting, and I credit these guys who have been played, just so many guys, which is great for team morale.” 

The primary engine of North Carolina's success on Saturday was its explosive offense, as the 25-goal outing matched the team's season high.

In the Tar Heels' three losses this season to Ohio State, Denver and Duke, offensive struggles dug the team into holes and forced the team to play from behind. UNC's offense has responded well since then, netting 66 goals over the last three outings.

“Let's hope that our woes are behind us,” Breschi said.

The Tar Heels scored early and often on Saturday, establishing dominance in the first period with six goals in the opening nine minutes. The offensive explosion carried into the second period, as the team carried a resounding 15-3 lead heading into the halftime break.

Saturday's lopsided win was a testament to the Tar Heels' cohesion as a unit.

Graduate transfer and attackman Logan McGovern, who finished the game with a team-high five goals, noted that running in transition and sharing the ball was the key to unlocking the team's attack.

“Our six-on-six offense was really moving well,” McGovern said. “I thought we shared the ball, I think that’s kind of a benefactor of a really good ball movement and really good offense overall within the team.”

Senior face-off man Andrew Tyeryar, who added a hat trick of his own, said that the defense also played a pivotal role in shutting down the Friars. 

“We’ve got a good solid group, then with [Collin] Krieg in goalie, a really solid defense,” Tyeryar said. “Communication, aggression and playing really physically, that’s been great for us.” 

The Tar Heels benefited from the lopsided score by playing every healthy player on the roster — giving some of the main contributors much-needed rest. The team will now have a 12-day hiatus, before taking on No. 3 Virginia, which will be spent regrouping physically and mentally with the hope of coming into the game refreshed.

For Tyeryar, a Falls Church, Virginia, native, a hometown affair is on the table when Virginia comes to Chapel Hill. But for the rest of the team, a different storyline is in play.

After winning only one conference game last season, the upcoming bout against the Cavaliers will be a pivotal test for the Tar Heels to show where they stand on a national scale, and potentially, kickstart its redemptive campaign for the remainder of the ACC schedule.

“We want to rebound off of last year's ACC performance,” McGovern said. “So string a couple of wins together and really have a good year in the ACC.”  

@gracegnugent

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com