LUTHERVILLE, MD. – The second-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels went on a 5-0 run in the second half to seize control and got multiple goals from Aly Messinger, Molly Hendrick and Sammy Jo Tracy as they defeated No. 19 Albany, 10-6, on Friday.
The neutral-site contest was played on the campus of the St. Paul’s School for Girls.
The Tar Heels won their fourth game in a row, improving to 7-1 on the season, while the Great Danes fell to 4-1.
Messinger led the way with two goals and an assist for Carolina, while three assists from Sydney Holman help set up others.
Hendrick and Tracy both scored twice, while Brittney Coppa, Maggie Bill, Sam McGee and Kelly Devlin all posted singles.
Dakotah Savitcheff scored three goals for the Great Danes, with Sarah Martin, Nichole Eeamer and Katherine Sweeney adding a goal each.
Carolina led, 2-0, after 10 minutes on goals from Messinger and Devlin.
After Martin scored for Albany, the Tar Heels closed the low-scoring first half with back-to-back goals by Coppa and Hendrick.
The Great Danes opened the second half with a goal at the 27:49 mark, only to see the Tar Heels build what would be an insurmountable lead with a 5-0 run in a span of five minutes to go up 9-2.
Carolina eventually led 10-3 with 8:19 to go before Albany scored three goals in the final minutes to cut the final margin to four goals.
Carolina outshot Albany 28-17 and controlled 13 of the game’s 18 draws.
Caylee Waters (6-1) started in goal for UNC and played the first half, making three saves and allowing one goal.
Megan Ward played the second half, allowing five goals and making two saves, while Courtney Henderson (4-1) went the distance in the cage for Albany, making five saves.
The Tar Heels travel to play at Towson on Sunday.