Men's lacrosse falls to No. 2 North Carolina

The No.16 University of Richmond men’s lacrosse team fell 9-14 to No. 2 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Robins Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Due to a confirmed COVID-19 implication for head coach Dan Chemotti this week, associate head coach and defensive coordinator Paul Richards filled in for Chemotti during the game. 

Sophomore attacks Dalton Young and Richie Connell tied for goals, each with three. Graduate student goalie Jack Rusbuldt played the full 60 minutes and accrued 19 saves. 

In the first period, UNC dominated in face-offs 7-1 and beat the Spiders in shots on goal 12-10. The first goal of the day went to Young unassisted with 13:38 left in the first, his second goal of the season. 

In thirty seconds, UR and UNC contributed to three turnovers causing a series of shot attempts by both teams, but senior attack Ryan Lanchbury was able to secure a goal with 5:57 left in the first period. 

It was a bit of a slow start for both teams at the top of the second quarter, but a save by Rusbuldt with 10:38 prompted a 70-plus yard pass to Young. Young handed it off to Connell, whose scoring goal closed the gap to 4-5 with UNC still leading and 10:25 left in the quarter. 

Shortly after, UNC went 3-0 in attempts, adding three to the board in the final nine minutes of the first half. UNC’s senior midfielder Ryan O'Connell, junior midfielder Will Nicklaus, and junior attack Brian Cameron each contributed one goal -- Nicklaus's was his first of the season. 

The first half concluded with the Spiders trailing by four.

UR picked up the pace in the second half with two goals in the first minute and a half, one by Lanchbury and another by Connell. UNC won the faceoff, which aided a goal by UNC senior midfielder Tanner Cook in the first minute of the game. 

UR won the following faceoff, and Lanchbury scored with an assist from graduate student long stick midfielder Sean Menges. Another goal for Connell, assisted by Lanchbury, followed just thirty seconds later. Menges forced a turnover shortly after with a clear attempt and picked up a ground ball. 

Another goal was recorded for the Spiders by graduate student midfielder Tate Gallagher, his first of the season, with 10:57 left on the clock. UNC responded with two goals to maintain a four-point lead. 

The remaining eight minutes of the third period remained unscored for both teams, after each team scored three earlier in the quarter. 

In the final quarter of the game, UR won the faceoff with a ground ball pickup by Menges, but a toggle battle gave UNC the ball, allowing them to dodge UR's defense and score on an open goal. But the Spiders quickly responded with a goal by Connell and an assist by Lanchbury, still trailing by four (8-12). 

Neither team scored again until there was 3:49 left in the game, with a give-and-go play by UNC. The Spiders were the last ones to score, with a goal by Young, his fourth of the season. The game concluded with the Spiders still falling short 14-9. 

Contact sports editor Grace Mittl at grace.mittl@richmond.edu.