Tweet

	1	2	F
Virginia Tech (6-11)	7	5	12
(2) North Carolina (14-2)	8	10	18
Charlottesville, Va - 234 Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Seeming to have an upset within its reach, trailing by just a goal at the half, the Virginia Tech lacrosse team eventually fell to the top-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels, 18-12, at Klöckner Stadium Thursday afternoon. A second-half push by the Tar Heels on offense ultimately decided the first-round ACC Tournament game.

It was a big day for Megan Will as she became the all-time career points leader at Tech, while she and Meg Bartley led the squad with three goals apiece. Kelly Devlin led the Tar Heels with four goals.

It was Will that struck first for Tech (6-11), responding to an early goal by North Carolina (14-2) within the first six minutes of play. The Tar Heels seemed to pull away as they tacked on three straight goals, but Tech had an answer.

Defender Jack Boissonneault brought the ball from Tech’s defensive zone and took advantage of an open look on goal for her first score of the year after Maddy Hess knocked the ball loose to cause a Tar Heel turnover.

Jessi Thon made it back-to-back goals for Tech when she quickly redirected a pass from Cawley Bromley behind the cage. Will added her second of the day, and then less than 30 seconds later found Bartley for the goal which gave Tech its first lead of the day at 5-4 with 12:13 left in the first half.

North Carolina called a timeout following the Bartley goal and responded, regaining the lead with a three-goal run of its own. Bromley made it a 7-6 game when she scored on a feed from Bartley with under two minutes until the break, and Will gave the game its fourth tie with a free position goal that also earned her sole possession of the school points record.

Tech goalie Meagh Graham had a huge first half, making 10 saves in the opening 30 minutes of play and allowed just eight goals as North Carolina was up 8-7 at the half. Tech had the more productive first half despite being outshot 24-10.

The close play continued to open the second half as both teams added goals in the opening minute, but the Tar Heels went on a steady 5-1 run for much of the second half to create some distance the Hokies would never overcome.

Tristan McGinley ended a 20-minute scoring drought for Tech with less than ten minutes remaining in the game, as she weaved her way through multiple North Carolina defenders for a look up close. Tech added a pair of goals in the final ten minutes of play, but the Tar Heels tacked on four more to close out the game.

Graham finished with 12 saves in the game, matching her career best. Caylee Waters made the start in cage for the Heels and picked up the win. She made two saves and allowed seven goals in her 30 minutes of action. Megan Ward played the full second half in goal for North Carolina, finishing with seven saves and allowing five goals.

Tech will wrap up the 2015 season next week, traveling to Navy on May 2, for an 11 a.m. game.

For updates on Virginia Tech lacrosse, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Lax