North Carolina is legitimate championship contender
The reason North Carolina is so strong and will make a serious run for the championship is because the Tar Heels have the best defense in the country. They are long, lean and athletic and can extend so far that they take a lot of teams out of their normal offense.
Defensemen Charles McComas, Ryan Flanagan and Michael Jarvis are fast, quick and not afraid to take risk.
Long-pole middles Milton Lyles and Sean Jackson will put midfielders out and take them on shortly after they cross the midfield line. Carolina is allowing only 6.30 goals a game while scoring 11.60.
Maybe the most important factor working for the Tar Heels is that they are out on a mission to prove that they are back. Virginia has more talent than any team in college lacrosse, but the Tar Heels' desire to succeed is an equalizer.
