• Senior Abby Berrettone and sophomore Samantha Brown each tallied two goals for HPU
• Junior Leah Pace added two points (1g, 1a) and picked up a career-high four ground balls and tied a personal best with three caused turnovers
• HPU returns to action on Sunday at 2 p.m. vs. Davidson inside Vert Stadium
BURLINGTON, N.C. – The High Point University women’s lacrosse team dropped a 16-10 contest to Elon University on Wednesday evening inside Rhodes Stadium.
HPU trailed just one (6-5) late in the second half but from there, Elon struck with a 7-0 run over the next 15 minutes of action to take control of the contest.
“We’re still young and we’re still learning,” head coach Lyndsey Boswell said. “I feel like we’re getting better everyday. We produced moments of greatness and took over momentum in short stints tonight. Once we can do that for longer periods we will start winning games and finding more success. I have a lot of faith in this team and am excited for them to put it all together. They are going to amaze a lot of people when they do.”
Sophomore Samantha Brown and senior Abby Berrettone each posted two goals for the Panthers, while junior Leah Pace added a goal and an assist while picking up a career-high four ground balls. The Bel Air, Md., native also tied a career high with three caused turnovers and registered two draw controls in a well-rounded effort.
Junior Kristina Renner posted a goal and tallied a team-high four draw controls while freshman Erica Perrotta added two points (1g, 1a) and registered a draw control on the night.
Senior goalkeeper Julia Burns made a solid 12 saves in a full 60 minutes in the cage for the Panthers.
The Phoenix held advantages in shots on goal (28-16) and draw controls (17-11) while the Panthers posted a 12-6 advantage in saves and were 3-of-6 (.500) in free position attempts.
Elon posted the first three scores of the game before Pace bounced home a free position shot to make it 3-1 at the 19:37 mark of the first half. The Phoenix extended its edge to 5-1 with 8:45 to play in the half, but junior Emily Meier moved the Panthers back within three (5-2) with a goal with 7:12 to go.
After an Elon goal (6-2), the Panthers raced back with a 3-0 run to cut the Phoenix lead to one (6-5) with 3:32 remaining in the half. The run included two goals from Brown and a score from Renner.
But the Phoenix posted the final two goals of the half and took an 8-5 lead into the break.
Elon won five of the first six draw controls of the second half, and that advantage in possession helped the Phoenix post the first five goals of the period to build a 13-5 lead. Back-to-back scores from Berrettone and Perrotta cut the Elon edge to 13-7 with 12:32 to go and another score from Berrettone moved HPU within five (13-8) with 10:16 to go.
But Elon posted the next two goals to go up 15-8 with 8:57 to play and the Panthers could not move closer than six for the remainder of the game. Junior Clara Osmont and senior Kendyl Gardner posted the last two scores of the game for HPU.
The Panthers return to action Sunday against rival Davidson inside Vert Stadium. First draw is scheduled for 2 p.m.