Third-year Oregon coach Jen Larsen knows and loves North Carolina.
Well, maybe other than the humidity, she said, but everything else is great – the school, old friends, the memories. Lucky for the Ducks, when they arrive in Chapel Hill to play the No. 1 Tar Heels today, they’ll at least know where to get a decent meal.
“It’s going to be the same as any road trip,” Larsen said. “The good thing is we’ll know the good spots to go and eat.”
Larsen spent three years at North Carolina as an assistant coach as well as a defense and recruiting specialist before starting at square one with a brand new program at Oregon in 2003.
Prior to that, she was an assistant lacrosse coach and director for the Duke field hockey program from 1998-2000. In 2002, she helped guide North Carolina to an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, a school-record 17 wins and the school’s third appearance in the NCAA Final Four.
Under Larsen this season, the Ducks (2-0, 2-0 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) are No. 20 in the Inside Lacrosse Division I Media Poll on Tuesday, marking the first time Oregon has been ranked. North Carolina (1-0, 1-0 ACC), on the other hand, took possession of first place in the poll after defeating previously top-ranked and two-time defending National Champion Northwestern 9-8 in double overtime on Saturday.
Larsen said the Ducks are still approaching Friday’s match, slated for 3 p.m. (6 p.m. EST) at Fetzer Field, like any other.
“We are just going to go out and give them the hardest game that we can,” Larsen said. “They are a very good program and we are just hoping we can bring our ‘A’ game.”
Of course, Larsen can’t help but recognize that the match is more than just a chance for Oregon to play the nation’s best squad. It will be a time to reflect – if only briefly – on her time spent at North Carolina, which overlapped with current Tar Heel coach Jenny Levy’s tenure. Levy, whom Larsen said she can’t thank enough for taking a chance and adding her to the coaching staff, has overseen eight NCAA Tournament bids at North Carolina and three Final Four appearances.
“Everyone had fun but also worked very hard,” Larsen said. “(Levy and I) connected very well and she gave me a lot of my own responsibilities, being in charge of the defense. I’ve emulated a lot of what she did with the start of her program with what we’re doing here.”
Larsen said she has stayed in touch with Levy. In fact, Levy called Larsen to congratulate her after Oregon upset No. 16 Stanford. The two also occasionally cross paths on the recruiting trail.
“We see a lot of each other out and about, ” Larsen said. “I consider her a great mentor.”
North Carolina will also be a familiar place to Oregon assistant coach Beth Ames and senior Brooke Dieringer. Ames, a third-year coach, was an All-American midfielder for the Tar Heels, leading the team in scoring in 2003 and 2004. Dieringer transferred to Oregon for the 2007 season just a season after tying Stephanie Scurachio as the Tar Heels’ leading scorer with 29 goals.
“Brooke is really excited,” Larsen said. “Her family is coming down in full force. It’s going to be a great day for her.
“It will be good for us to get back there and it’s a great town and great place and I have some really good friends there. But when we get there it will be all about business.”
Notebook
The Ducks last played the Tar Heels, who were ranked third at the time, in 2005 and were defeated 21-8 in Chapel Hill. Kate Fleming had three goals and Jen May had two goals. In 2006, North Carolina posted a 13-6 record and tied for the ACC regular season championship. Among others, this year’s Tar Heel squad features senior Jenn Cook, who Inside Lacrosse Magazine named its preseason Defender of the Year. Cook is a returning first-team All-American defender who is tremendous at ground balls and draw controls. Oregon will play Davidson (0-1) on Sunday in Davidson, NC, at 12 p.m. EST. The Ducks beat them 13-11 in 2006 in a match that saw May register three goals and three assists.