CHAPEL HILL - With two scrimmages against outside competition under the team's belt and more action to come this weekend, head coach Jenny Levy is pleased with how her Tar Heel women's lacrosse fall season is proceeding. 

Last Friday, Carolina played exhibitions against Winthrop and Duke.  This weekend will feature a scrimmage against Virginia Tech and Carolina's annual alumnae weekend.

"It was our first time out there this fall against outside competition, and to play against someone else was great," head coach Jenny Levy says of last weekend's action.  "Winthrop is a first-year program and we're glad to have the sport continue to expand in this part of the country.  We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores this year, and the extra work definitely should help us." 

Against Duke, the Tar Heels scrimmaged seven players on seven in separate ends of the field.  The UNC defense practiced against the Duke offense, and vice versa.

"It was definitely valuable to see which kids are starting to catch on to the fundamentals we emphasize," says Levy.  "We have tried to keep things simple to shore up skills and techniques in the younger players. It will take some time, but we are trying to get everybody on the same page.

"The NCAA allows us five days of competition in the fall," she continues.  "We don't always use all of them, but with us being so young this season we felt it would be beneficial this year."

This weekend, the Tar Heels will host their annual alumnae weekend Friday through Sunday.  The current team will scrimmage alumnae on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Henry Stadium.  On Saturday, Carolina will play Virginia Tech at 10 a.m. at the Finley Practice Fields complex.  Sunday's activities will include a team awards banquet.

Carolina's fall schedule will continue on Oct. 13 at the U.S. Naval Academy's tournament, on Oct. 14 at Loyola and on Oct. 27 at Duke's fall tournament.