Feb. 18, 2001

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Tenth-ranked North Carolina trailed for most of the game Sunday afternoon but rallied to score nine of the last 10 goals to defeat Fairfield 12-7 in John Haus' debut as the Tar Heels' men's lacrosse coach. The game was the season opener for both teams as 450 fans watched at UNC's Francis E. Henry Stadium.

Jeff Sonke was Carolina's main man Sunday afternoon as he came within one of his career highs for both goals and points in a game. He finished with five goals and one assist as the Tar Heels rallied from a 6-3 deficit with 8:43 to play in the third quarter.

"It's great to win my first game back here and it's great to be back in Chapel Hill," said Haus. "Our kids came out tentative and Fairfield took it to us. I told our guys in a timeout in the third quarter that we need to play with a sense of urgency. Once we got over the hump we played with a lot more confidence."

Fairfield goalkeeper C.J. Kemp kept the Tar Heels at bay most of the first half as he made 10 saves while allowing only two goals as the Stags built a 4-2 halftime lead. Sonke scored the opening goal of the game for the Tar Heels but Fairfield ran off four scores in a row to lead 4-1 with 10:46 left in the second quarter. Midfielder Peter Stanley had two goals in that run for Fairfield. Finally, Steven Will scored the first of his two goals to cut the lead to 4-2 7:27 before the half but neither team scored again before intermission.

After a slashing penalty on Mac Hammer on the opening faceoff of the second half the Stags capitalized with a goal by Matt Buecker 59 seconds into the period. Sonke got one back for Carolina but Troy Bamann's goal with 8:43 to play in the third quarter restored Fairfield's three-goal advantage.

Then the game began to turn. Sonke scored his third goal, assisted by freshman attackman Andrew Lucas, who had one goal and three assists in his Tar Heel debut, with 6:47 to play in the quarter. Then reserve midfielder Peter Anselmo made a big defensive play with a takeaway and a clear that led to a fast break goal by Joel Miller with 4:23 left in the third quarter. Sonke tied the game with his second extra-man goal less than three minutes later and then Lucas' unassisted goal with 38 seconds left in the third quarter gave Carolina its first lead since 7:40 remained in the first quarter.

Will got his second goal 30 seconds into the fourth quarter to put the Tar Heels up by two but Tom Weney came right back with his second tally of the game for Fairfield to make the score 8-7 with 12:36 left. From then on it was all Carolina. UNC's passing in the final eight minutes of the game was superb and it resulted in four Tar Heel goals--one each by Hammer, Kyle Bell, Sonke and Tim Gosier. Austin Garrison had two of the four assists during that span and he finished with a career high three assists in the game.

The Tar Heels will be back in action again next Saturday when they play Bucknell at 1 p.m. in a game to be played at Calvert Hall High School in Baltimore, Md.

2001 NORTH CAROLINA MEN'S LACROSSE
Fairfield (0-1) vs. #10 North Carolina (1-0)
Henry Stadium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
SCORING SUMMARY
Qtr.--Team Scoring--Time--Score of Game--Goal By--Assist By
1--UNC--8:14--UNC 1-0--Jeff Sonke
1--FU--7:40--Tied 1-1--Peter Stanley
1--FU--2:57--Fairfield 2-1--Peter Stanley
2--FU--14:12--Fairfield 3-1--Tom Werney
2--FU--10:46--Fairfield 4-1--Shaun Graham
2--UNC--7:27--Fairfield 4-2--Steven Will--Jeff Sonke
3--FU--14:01--Fairfield 5-2--Matt Buecker (EMG)--Peter Stanley
3--UNC--9:13--Fairfield 5-3--Jeff Sonke (EMG)--Andrew Lucas
3--FU--8:43--Fairfield 6-3--Troy Bamann--Rob Scipioni
3--UNC--6:47--Fairfield 6-4--Jeff Sonke--Andrew Lucas
3--UNC--4:23--Fairfield 6-5--Joel Miller--Judd Lattimore
3--UNC--1:50--Tied 6-6--Jeff Sonke (EMG)--Austin Garrison
3--UNC--0:38--UNC 7-6--Andrew Lucas
4--UNC--14:30--UNC 8-6--Steven Will
4--FU--12:36--UNC 8-7--Tom Werney--Troy Bamann
4--UNC--7:27--UNC 9-7--Mac Hammer--Steven Will
4--UNC--5:18--UNC 10-7--Kyle Bell--Austin Garrison
4--UNC--3:10--UNC--11-7--Jeff Sonke--Andrew Lucas
4--UNC--2:17--UNC 12-7--Tim Gosier--Austin Garrison
EMG= Extra Man Goal
SHG= Short Handed Goal
BOX SCORE
SCORING BY QUARTERS 1--2--3--4--TOTAL
Fairfield 2--2--2--1--7
North Carolina 1--1--5--5--12
INDIVIDUAL SCORING SUMMARY
Goals Scored
Fairfield--Peter Stanley 2, Tom Werney 2, Shaun Graham, Matt Buecker, Troy Bamann
North Carolina--Jeff Sonke 5, Steven Will 2, Joel Miller, Tim Gosier, Andrew Lucas, Mac Hammer, Kyle Bell
Assists
Fairfield--Peter Stanley, Rob Scipioni , Troy Bamann
North Carolina--Andrew Lucas 3, Austin Garrison 3, Jeff Sonke, Steven Will, Judd Lattimore
SHOTS ON GOAL 1--2--3--4--TOTAL
Fairfield 5--10--6--2--23
North Carolina--13--9--12--10--44
SAVES 1--2--3--4--TOTAL
Fairfield 4--6--4--2--16
North Carolina 3--3--4--1--11
FACE-OFFS WON 1--2--3 --4--TOTAL
Fairfield 2--2--4--4--12
North Carolina 2--2--4--3--11
GOALKEEPER SUMMARY
Fairfield Min. Pl.--Saves--Goals Allowed
C.J. Kemp 60:00--16--12
North Carolina Min. Pl.--Saves--Goals Allowed
Kris Blindenbacher 60:00--11--7
GROUND BALLS 1--2--3--4--TOTAL
Fairfield 6--7--6--4--23
North Carolina 14--8--7--6--35
PENALTIES 1--2--3--4--TOTAL
Fairfield none--none--2-1:30--1-1:00--3-2:30
North Carolina none--none--1-1:00--2-1:30--3-2:30
CLEARS 1--2--3 --4--OT--TOTAL
Fairfield 5--3--2--4--14
North Carolina 2--0--4--7--13
ATTENDANCE: 450
OFFICIALS: Tony Cullen, Mark Goldsmith, Steve Dahl