Feb. 15, 2009
Final Stats
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Kaitlyn Messinger scored the lone goal in overtime to lead No. 9 North Carolina to a 14-13 overtime win over No. 12 Vanderbilt on Sunday afternoon in the season opener for both teams ath the VU Lacrosse Complex.
Carolina led 3-1 in the opening minutes of the game before Cara Giordano gave VU its first lead at 4-3 with 12 minutes left in the first period. The Tar Heels then carried an 8-7 advantage into halftime.
Carolina (1-0) charged out of the locker room to start the second period, building a 12-8 lead in the first seven minutes. The Commodores settled down, however, and battled back to pull even at 13-13 off another Giordano goal with five minutes left.
Both teams failed to net another score before the end of regulation, sending the contest into two three-minute, overtime periods. Both teams shutdown their opponents' scoring in the first extra interval, but Messinger finally tallied the game-winning shot with two minutes left in the final stanza.
Corey Donohoe led Carolina with four goals. Megan Bosica had two goals and an assist and Jenn Russell and Chelsea Parks scored two goals apiece for Carolina.
Giordano finished with three points (two goals and an assist) on six shots, while freshmen Ally Carey and Alex Priddy impressed in their collegiate debuts. Carey totaled two goals and an assist on four shots, and Priddy recorded four points on three goals and an assist in five shots.
Logan Ripley allowed 13 goals and recorded 10 saves to pick up the victory in the cage for UNC. Rachel Woolford recorded 11 saves in her first career start for Vanderbilt in the net.
