Chapel Hill, N.C. - For the second consecutive season, the Robert Morris University men's lacrosse team proved a worthy opponent for No. 3 North Carolina as the Colonials hung tough with UNC before falling 14-11 in their 2011 season opener Saturday afternoon at Fetzer Field.

RMU used a 3-0 run to pull within a single goal, 12-11, with 4:05 left to play and proceeded to force a turnover after UNC won the faceoff to have a chance to tie the game with about three minutes to play.

Senior captain Trevor Moore (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia / Western Reserve Academy), junior Kyle Buchanan (Nepean, Ontario / John McCrae) and junior Kiel Matisz (Stoney Creek, Ontario / Saltfleet) all extended their point streaks, each of which is at least 20 games long.

Moore and redshirt senior Patrick Smith (Westminster, Md. / Westminster) each recorded a hat trick to lead the offense while redshirt junior Kevin Brownell (Burlington, Ontario / Central) added two goals and an assist. It was Moore's second consecutive hat trick against UNC.

With his three points, Smith became just the fourth player in RMU history to surpass the 100-point plateau for his career as his hat trick pushed his total to 101. Buchanan's two assists moved him into the top 10 in career points as he currently sits in ninth place with a total of 53.

North Carolina got off to a hot start as it scored four of the first five goals and led by three after 10 minutes of play. After Head Coach Bear Davis called a timeout, the Colonials scored three of the next four to pull within one with 10:46 left in the second quarter.

The stretch was highlighted by a beautifully orchestrated hidden-ball trick pulled by the RMU offense-Brownell found the twine to catch the Tar Heel defense completely by surprise as it appeared as though UNC believed another Colonial was in possession.

After North Carolina scored a single goal to momentarily stop the tide, RMU scored twice in just over a minute to pull even at 6-6 with 4:57 left in the opening half.

UNC was able to finally able to tilt the momentum back in its favor as it scored a trio of goals to close the half, the final one of which was in question as it went in the cage right as the buzzer sounded and was discussed by the officials before being awarded.

The third frame was relatively light in scoring, but Carolina scored twice over the first five minutes of the final quarter to take its first and only four-goal lead of the game.

Faced with its largest deficit of the day and time ticking down, RMU displayed impressive resilience as Moore scored twice over the ensuing five mintues before Brownell added a tally that pulled the Colonials to within one with 4:05 to play.

Despite having the ball in their offensive third with a chance to tie, the Colonials were unable to get a shot off before UNC scored on a fast break to push its lead back to two. The Tar Heels were able to successfully run out most of the remaining time to hold on.

Robert Morris topped the Tar Heels in transition as the Colonials were successful on 14-of-15 clear attempts, their best mark by percentage in their past 16 games. RMU also put home goals on 2-of-4 extra-man opportunities on the afternoon, bettering UNC's 1-for-4 mark.

Matisz and Taylor Caparosa (Annapolis, Md. / Annapolis) both added a goal and an assist while freshman Tyler Rankel (Downington, Pa. / Downington West) collected his first collegiate point with an assist on Moore's middle tally.

Robert Morris only committed eight turnovers against the nationally-ranked Tar Heels.

Junior midfielder Casey Abbott (San Jose, Calif. / Bellarmine Prep.) led RMU with four ground balls while classmate Mike Meagher (Chesterfield, Mo. / St. Louis University) registered a game-high three caused turnovers.

RMU will look to register its first win of 2011 in its home opener next weekend as the Colonials welcome Hobart to Joe Walton Stadium. Faceoff is set for 1:00 p.m.