A look back: No. 2 Tar Heels WLAX tops No. 3 Florida, 17-11

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

GAINESVILLE, FLA. – The second-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels picked up a big 17-11 win on the road at Florida on Saturday.

Brittney Coppa and Alex Moore scored four goals apiece for North Carolina (2-0) to top third-ranked Florida (0-1).

For Moore, a transfer from the University of Southern California, it was her second four-goal game in as many.

Sammy Jo Tracy added three goals while Kelly Devlin added two to go along with singles from Aly Messinger, Molly Hendrick, Maggie Bill and Marie McCool.

Shannon Gilroy and Mollie Stevens led Florida with four goals apiece.

A five-minute 4-0 scoring from the Tar Heels midway through the second half opened up a 13-9 lead with 15:30 remaining.

Gilroy then scored to cut the lead to 13-10 but North Carolina scored four more on their way to the final 17-11 win.

Sophomore Caylee Waters started in goal for Carolina and went the distance, recording 11 saves (two off her career high of 13).

The Tar Heels return to action next Friday at home against High Point at 5 p.m. at Fetzer Field.

Boxscore

North Carolina 17, Florida 11

UNC goals – Alex Moore 4, Brittney Coppa 4, Sammy Jo Tracy 3, Kelly Devlin 2, Maggie Bill 1, Molly Hendrick 1, Aly Messinger 1, Marie McCool 1

UNC assists — Messinger 3, Sydney Holman 1, Coppa 1, Tracy 1

UF goals – Shannon Gilroy 4, Mollie Stevens 4, Nicole Graziano 2, Shayna Pirreca 1

UF assists —Graziano 2, Carli Marsh 1, Gilroy 1, Sammi Burgess 1

Shots: UNC 37, UF 26

Ground balls: UNC 22, UF 19

Draw controls: UNC 16, UF 14

Goalkeepers: UNC –Caylee Waters (W, 1-0, 60:00 minutes, 11 goals allowed, 11 saves); UF – Mary-Sean Wilcox (60:00 minutes, 17 goals allowed, 9 saves)

Turnovers: UNC 8, UF 9