CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Three-quarters through the game at No. 8 North Carolina the Bellarmine lacrosse team held the lead, but the home-standing Tar Heels owned the fourth quarter to post a 15-8 victory over the upset-minded Knights on Saturday afternoon at Torrance Field. 
 
Bellarmine (2-9) came in a big underdog in the game against its Atlantic Coast Conference rival, but the Knights acquitted themselves quite well, holding a 6-4 halftime advantage and leading 8-7 after three quarters. 
 
However, All-American Chris Gray led the Tar Heels to a dominant fourth quarter performance to secure the win. The 5-7 attackman who entered the game as the nation's second-leading scorer erupted for three goals and an assist in the final 15 minutes as he finished the day with eight points (5G, 3A).
 
Meanwhile the UNC defense pitched a shutout in the final period as the Knights got few offensive possessions.  The Tar Heels won eight of nine fourth quarter faceoffs while committing just one turnover.
 
The Knights were the dominant team over the first 30 minutes, however, and were particularly effective in the second period when the only UNC goal came just before the clock expired in the half.
 
After the Tar Heels recorded the game's first goal, the Knights answered with back-to-back scores from Christian Della Rocco and Jesse Roth to take their first lead with 8:21 showing on the first quarter clock. North Carolina closed the opening stanza by scoring the final two goals to take a 3-2 after the first quarter.
 
Bellarmine opened the second period with two early goals from Della Rocco and Kyle Playsted to re-take the lead with 13:04 remaining in the first half.
 
The Knights then kept up the pressure by tacking on two more goals to take a 6-3 lead at the 3:21 mark of the second quarter.  The Tar Heels then took advantage of a Bellarmine turnover in the final minute, scoring with just under seven seconds remaining.
 
Coming out of the intermission, the North Carolina ride picked up the intensity and after Bellarmine went 10-for-10 in clears the first half, the Tar Heels forced three turnovers on BU's first three clear attempts in the third quarter. The home team took advantage and went a 3-0 run to claim a 7-6 lead five minutes into the second half. 
 
The Knights hung tough, however, as goalie JC Higginbotham came up with eight of his season-high 16 saves in the third quarter.  Then, the Knights struck for two goals in the final 1:18 of the period.  First, Playsted converted on a shot that came at an extremely difficult angle from left of the goal. Then, Benny O'Rourk scored after a spin move with just seven-tenths of a second remaining on the clock.

Unfortunately for the Knights, that would be their final highlight as the Tar Heels clamped down in the final quarter and ended the game with sizable advantages in nearly every statistic.  North Carolina (7-2) outshot the Knights 48-26 including 31-17 in shots on goal. They also were a perfect 18-for-18 on clears and won 21 of the game's 27 faceoffs, leading to a 36-17 ground ball advantage.
 
Gray's eight points paced the UNC attack with Nicky Solomon adding three goals and an assist. Bellarmine's Playsted matched Solomon with three goals and an assist while Brayden Brown also totaled four points for the Knights on three assists and a goal.
 
Bellarmine defenseman Jon Robbins, who entered the game as the national leader in caused turnovers, registered one today to bring his career total to 100 and become just the 19th player in NCAA history to reach that plateau.
 
Today's contest was Bellarmine's final non-conference game. The Knights will close their regular season with five straight ASUN contests beginning Saturday, April 2 with a home contest against Cleveland State at noon.
 
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