It was a cool, rainy day at Fetzer Field where the Elon University women’s lacrosse team suffered a 20-5 loss to No. 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Phoenix was unable to upset the top-ranked Tar Heels as it struggled to maintain the Tar Heel attack that held possession for most of the game.

The Phoenix won the opening draw and picked up a total of eight draw controls throughout the game. Anna Vitton and Olivia Fernandez led the Elon attack, each scoring two goals. Sloane Kessler also had a strong offensive contribution with one goal and two assists for the Phoenix.

The Tar Heels were the first to strike with a goal by Abbey Friend, who netted two goals and had three assists on the day. The Tar Heels went up 5-0 in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Then two back-to-back goals by the Phoenix attack cut the deficit to three. Vitton netted the first with 19:41 left in the half, off a pass from Kessler. Kessler then put one of her own away that had Elon trailing UNC 5-2 with 18 minutes left in the first half.

UNC went on a 6-0 run and a goal by Carly Reed put the Tar Heels up with 12 minutes to play. But a free position goal by Fernandez stifled that offensive attack with just over four minutes to play.

Two more goals by the relentless UNC offense made it 14-3 in favor of the Tar Heels headed into the half. The Phoenix had nine shots to UNC’s 28 at the break.

Elon struck first in the second half with another Vitton goal assisted by Kessler to make it a 14-4 game at the 24:20 mark. The Phoenix tried to slow the game down and keep possession to create a good chance and it paid off. UNC scored the next four goals to go up 18-4 before Fernandez netted her second goal of the game to make it an 18-5 contest with 5:51 left. Two more Tar Heel goals capped the game at 20-5.

UNC took the advantage in shots, firing 46 while Elon had 13, 11 of which were on goal. The Tar Heels picked up 28 groundballs to Elon’s 13 and won 19-of-27 draw controls. The Tar Heels finished 9-of-11 in clear attempts, while the Phoenix went 11-of-18.

Elon goalie Rachel Ramirez played all 60 minutes and ended the day with a career-high 18 saves and six ground balls. UNC goalies split time in net and didn’t face much pressure, tallying only six total saves.

Elon will travel to Buies Creek, N.C. to play its next match against Campbell University Saturday, March 15. The opening draw is set for 2 p.m.