CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Fifth-ranked Princeton overcame a five-goal second-half deficit against third-ranked North Carolina, but Billy Bitter scored the go-ahead goal with exactly three minutes to play and the Tar Heels prevailed 12-11 in men's lacrosse action before a crowd of 2,812 at Fetzer Field Tuesday night. The win improves North Carolina to 7-0 overall, and the Tar Heels are off to their best start since the 1993 campaign when they won nine in a row to start the season.

Bitter rolled the crease on the left side and dunked the ball past Princeton goalkeeper Tyler Fiorito with exactly three minutes to play to put the Tar Heels up 11-10 after Princeton (4-1) had gone on a five-goal run in the third and fourth quarters to erase a 10-5 UNC lead. Bitter's goal, his only of the night, came after the Princeton defense had held the Tar Heels scoreless for a period of 15 minutes and 58 seconds.

On the ensuing face-off Bitter caused a turnover after the Tigers had initially won the draw, giving the Heels possession again. UNC padded the lead to 12-10 on a goal by Cryder DiPietro, assisted by Jimmy Dunster with 2:10 to play. Princeton's Rob Engelke scored with two seconds to play to cut the Tar Heel lead to one and Princeton won the ensuing face-off but there was not enough time for the Tigers to get off a shot.

Carolina was led in scoring by senior attackman Gavin Petracca, who had four goals, while sophomore midfielder Jimmy Dunster had career highs in both assists with three and points with five to go with his two-goal performance. Cryder DiPietro had two goals for UNC and the senior midfielder also added an assist for a career high of three points in the game.

Bitter finished with a goal and two assists while senior midfielder Sean DeLaney had a goal and an assist as both players kept alive their long scoring streaks. UNC's other goals came from redshirt junior midfielder Michael Burns and junior midfielder Ed Prevost, a junior college transfer, who scored the first goal of his Tar Heel career.

Princeton had a balanced scoring attack with Mike Chanenchuk and Rob Engelke leading the way with three goals each while cousins Chris McBride and Jack McBride each scored twice for the Tigers. Each McBride also had an assist in the game but the Tigers made their comeback mostly on the strength of unassisted goals.

Carolina, which has yet to trail in a game this year, will meet another Ivy League foe when they play host to Dartmouth Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Fetzer Field. The final stats were an indication of how close the game really was as Princeton outshot the Tar Heels 33-32 and won the ground ball battle 33-31. The Tigers won 15 face-offs to 12 for UNC. Both teams cleared the ball well with Princeton converting 12 of 13 and UNC 12 of 14.

The Tigers converted one of three extra-man opportunities while UNC was 0 for 2 on the EMO. Princeton had 11 turnovers, including five in the fourth quarter when it was mounting its furious comeback, while UNC committed nine turnovers. It was a difficult night for both goalkeepers under the lights on a chilly night at Fetzer Field. Tyler Fiorito made four saves while allowing 12 goals for Princeton while Chris Madalon had seven saves while allowing 11 goals for UNC.

The teams traded the first four goals of the match. Gavin Petracca, whose four goals were just one short of his career high in a game, was left unattended on the left side of the crease and scored just 56 seconds into the game off a feed by Bitter. Princeton answered a little over a minute later as two long sticks hooked up on the tying goal.

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2010-03-17