HPU MLAX Panthers Race Past Paladins 10-3

• With his three goals today, junior Dan Lomas became the first player in HPU history to eclipse the 100-goal mark in his career.
• Freshman Zach Tuell made 16 stops in goal as the defense held Furman to a HPU program low of three goals.
• Junior Jamie Piluso went 11-of-14 (.786) at the face-off ‘X’ and scored his second goal of the season.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men’s lacrosse team used a 7-0 run through the middle of the game to pull away for a 10-3 victory over Furman on Saturday in Vert Stadium.

The Panthers (5-5, 1-1) were led by three goals from junior Dan Lomas and 16 saves from freshman Zach Tuell. Furman (2-7. 1-2) received two goals from Clay Adams, but only had one other goal scorer as HPU set a new program record by allowing just three goals on the day.

“I thought the guys played really hard from start to finish on both sides of the ball,” head coach Jon Torpey said. “We’ve been looking for a full 60-minute effort and we got that. I’m proud of the way the guys played today.”

Lomas’ first goal, which came right before halftime, made him the first player in High Point lacrosse history to score 100 goals in his career.

“All the credit goes to the guys that I get to play with,” Lomas said. “I stand inside and our guys do a lot of work to set me up and at the end of the day I get the credit. But the credit should go to them.”

Sophomore Michael LeClair led the offense in scoring with four points (2g, 2a). Meanwhile, freshman Jason Ashwood registered his first multi-goal game and tallied a career-high four ground balls. Redshirt-junior Brad James and freshman Peyton Garrett each tallied goals while freshman T Moyer dished out two assists.

Tuell won the battle of freshmen goalkeepers, holding Furman to just three goals while posting a save percentage of .889. On the other side, Furman’s Reilly McDermott made 13 saves and held HPU scoreless through the first 12 minutes of the game, before the Panthers went on their 7-0 run.

Junior Jamie Piluso controlled the face-off circle, going 11-of-14 (.786) while tallying six ground balls and his second goal of the season. The Purple & White earned a +12 advantage (32-20) in ground balls as senior Pat Farrell, junior Adam Seal and LeClair each registered three ground balls.

Junior Zack Price and Farrell caused four turnovers apiece as the Panthers caused 11 of the Paladins’ 15 turnovers in the game. HPU fired 35 shots with 23 on goal while Furman attempted 36 shots with 19 on goal.

Neither team was able to score early as the young goalies kept a lid on the goals in the early going. Furman was able to break through first, scoring with a goal from Adams with 4:08 on the clock. The Panthers evened the score when LeClair found James who fired a shot past McDermott with 1:43 left in the quarter.

HPU killed a penalty as the first quarter clock expired before getting a man-up score from Garrett off an assist from Moyer (2-1, 14:30). LeClair then extended the Panthers’ lead to 3-1 with 5:44 until the half.

Piluso won the ensuing face-off and Moyer got a great shot off on goal. McDermott made a great stop, but Ashwood was there to pick up the rebound and score to give HPU a 4-1 advantage with 4:02 on the clock.

Ashwood struck again after picking up a ground ball and scoring in transition to make it 5-1 with 1:21 on the clock. The Panthers closed out the half with Lomas’ first goal of the day and 100th goal of his career (6-1, 0:28).

After the half, Lomas scored a ridiculous dodging goal at the 12:17 mark to extend HPU’s run to 7-0. The Paladins finally stopped the run with a goal by Kenny Meinsen to pull within five goals (7-2, 8:36).

Piluso started the fourth quarter in style, winning the face-off and taking it in for a goal (8-2, 14:52). LeClair, then, upped the lead seven with an unassisted goal at the 11:14 mark in the final stanza.

Lomas tacked on another goal with 3:04 to play for his third score of the afternoon (10-2). The Paladins notched their third and final goal when Adams scored with 20 seconds to go to make the final 10-3.

The Panthers return to action on Saturday, April 4 when they travel to Florida for another Southern Conference showdown with Jacksonville at 2 p.m.