HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s lacrosse team opened the 2014 season with an 11-6 victory over American University at Vert Stadium on Saturday. Senior attacker Mackenzie Carroll led the attack with a hat trick and senior Jasmine Jordan scored twice in the win.
“It feels good to pick up a win at home so we’re very happy in that sense,” said HPU head coach Lyndsey Boswell. “We didn’t really execute our gameplan in the first half so halftime wasn’t really full of adjustments as much as going back to our plan. Once we were able to do that I thought we executed well.”
After Carroll and Jordan, senior Alec Perry posted a goal, an assist and two caused turnovers in the win. Sara Kuhlman, Clara Osmont, Kendyl Gardner, Abby Berrettone and Emily Meier also scored for HPU.
American got a pair of goals and two ground balls from sophomore Terese Buechli. Four other players scored a goal for the Eagles, including junior Jordan Harrington who had a game-high four ground balls.
With the win, High Point began the year 1-0 for a third consecutive season. Junior Julia Burns picked up her first win in the cage for High Point. American fell to 0-1 on the year with the loss.
Trailing 1-0, senior Sara Kuhlman scored the Panthers’ first goal of the season with 26:07 remaining in the first half. HPU picked up its first lead of the season following back-to-back goals by Mackenzie Carroll. Carroll’s two goals came within a minute of each other and gave High Point a 3-2 lead. The Panthers and Eagles continued to trade blows going into the half tied 5-5.
High Point opened up the second half with two goals within the first minute and never looked back en route to a 6-0 scoring run. Junior Abby Berrettone started the scoring run, notching her first goal of the season with a high shot from the right side.
Burns played the entire game in net for High Point, making six saves. AU’s Jackie Ferri made five saves in each half. HPU outshot American, 23-16. The Panthers had 21 shots on goal in the contest.
The Panthers hit the road for the next four games beginning next Saturday, Feb. 15. when they take on the University of Florida. The Gators are currently ranked No. 4 in the nation but fell in their opener to No. 1 North Carolina, 20-8.