Carolina Wins Top Five Battle Over Florida
|
|
Kara Cannizzaro scored four goals in the Tar Heels' big
early-season win over Florida. |
from press release
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Third-ranked North Carolina got four goals from Kara Cannizzaro and three from Abbey Friend on its way to an 11-9 win over fourth-ranked Florida on Saturday afternoon at Fetzer Field in the season opener for both teams.
The Tar Heels improve to 1-0 with the victory and won their
first game of the season for the seventh year in a row. Florida
falls to 0-1 with the defeat.
In addition to the scoring output of Cannizzaro and Friend,
Carolina also got a goal and an assist from All-America Laura
Zimmerman and single goals from Emily Garrity, Taylor George and
Brittney Coppa. Becky Lynch had an assist.
For the Gators, Kitty Cullen scored three goals and dished out an
assist. Ashley Bruns scored three times and Brittany Dashiell had a
goal and an assist. Florida also got goals from Gabi Wiegand and
Caroline Chesterman.
Lauren Maksym played well in the cage for Carolina, recording 10
saves in picking up her first win of the year. Mikey Meagher
started in goal for Florida and gave up seven first-half goals
before giving way to Cara Canington in the second half.
Florida grabbed a 2-0 lead in the opening few minutes on a pair of
free position goals in the opening 2:02 of the game. Carolina
rallied to score three consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead and
force a Gator timeout. Friend had two of the three Tar Heel goals
during the run. Florida responded with a goal on an extra man
opportunity to tie it back up at three apiece with 17:07 left in
the first half.
The Tar Heels closed the first half with a 4-0 run to take command
7-3 at the break. Cannizzaro scored the last two of those goals,
the second of which came with under one second left on the first
half clock.
Garrity scored coming out of the lockerroom for an 8-3 Tar Heel
lead, their biggest of the game. The teams traded mini-scoring
rallies the rest of the way with Florida getting as close two goals
at 10-8 with 9:14 to go.
Cannizzaro scored an unassisted insurance goal for UNC with 6:28
to go that made it 11-8. Bruns eventually scored her third goal
with 2:49 to go to make it an 11-9 final.
