CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Will Walker scored three goals while three others totaled three points but it was not enough as the No. 15/16 Harvard men's lacrosse team fell at No. 2/2 North Carolina Tuesday night, 15-10.
Walker's hat trick was his first of the season and ninth of his career as Devin Dwyer extended his point-scoring streak to 26 games with one goal and two assists. Ian Ardrey and Deke Burns also added one goal and one assist, with Jack Breit, Morgan Cheek, Brendan Newman and Carney Mahon contributing one goal apiece.
Bryan Moore took the loss in goal, allowing 15 goals while making 10 saves. Austin Williams was solid at the X, winning 14-of-26 face offs, despite North Carolina (9-0) holding a slight 40-39 edge in ground balls. Breit and Dwyer each collected six ground balls as Sean Mahon and Williams notched four apiece.
The Tar Heels were paced by Jimmy Bitter who registered five goals and two assists, with Kieran Burke making 21 saves for the victory.
Bitter scored five of the game's first six goals as North Carolina jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Burns and Ardrey found the back of the net in the second quarter to end the run and pull Harvard (4-3) within 7-2 at the intermission.
The Tar Heels improved their advantage to 12-5 in the third quarter despite strikes from Breit, Newman and Dwyer. North Carolina tacked on three more goals to begin the fourth, moving the score to 15-5, before the Crimson finished the night out with a 5-0 run of its own.
Harvard returns to action Saturday, March 21, as it travels north to face Dartmouth. Face off is scheduled for 2 p.m. live on the Ivy League Digital Network.
Game Notes: Devin Dwyer recorded three points (1g, 2a) to extend his point-scoring streak to 26 games … Will Walker registered his first hat trick of the season and ninth of his career … Ian Ardrey (1g, 2a) and Deke Burns (1g, 2a) each extended their goal scoring streaks to eight games … Jack Breit scored his second goal of the season, eighth by a Harvard long stick … Harvard's game with North Carolina was its fourth against a ranked opponent in six contests and third straight.