Elon Women’s Lacrosse Suffers Setback at Top-Ranked UNC

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Elon women’s lacrosse team was not able to upset the No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels, suffering a 20-5 loss today, March 12, at Fetzer Field under the overcast skies of an oncoming storm.

The Phoenix (3-4) picked up 13 ground balls and won eight draws in the game. Three Elon players tallied points with Anna Vitton and Olivia Fernandez each scoring two goals, while Sloane Kessler netted a goal and two assists on the day.

Goalie Rachel Ramirez played the whole game between the pipes for the Phoenix, recording 18 saves and six ground balls in the loss.

The Tar Heels rattled off four goals in the first two minutes and took a 5-0 lead early. The Phoenix responded with back-to-back goals in the span of a minute to close the gap to three, 5-2. The first goal was scored by Vitton off a pass from Kessler at the 19:41 mark before Kessler broke away from a UNC defender to net a goal of her own with 18:47 on the clock.

With UNC leading 12-2, Fernandez scored her seventh goal of the season off a free-position shot to make it a nine-goal differential for the maroon and gold with just over four minutes left in the opening half. The Tar Heels made it a 14-3 advantage at the break.

Elon opened the second frame with another Kessler assisted goal by Vitton to make it a 14-4 game with 25:03 on the clock. UNC scored the next four goals for an 18-4 advantage before Fernandez posted her second goal of the game with 5:51 remaining, making it an 18-5 edge for the Tar Heels. UNC would score twice before the final horn sounded for the win.

For the game, UNC (7-0) outshot Elon, 46-13, won at the draw, 19-8, and grabbed 28 ground balls. The Tar Heels finished 9-of-11 in clear attempts, while the Phoenix was 11-of-18. UNC scored five of its goals on free-position shots, while Tar Heel goalies combined for six saves.

Elon will play its next game at Campbell on Saturday, March 15. The opening draw is set for 2 p.m. in Buies Creek, N.C.