HPU Women’s Lacrosse Releases 2016 Schedule

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University women’s lacrosse head coach Lyndsey Boswell has released the program’s 2016 schedule, which includes marquee home matchups with North Carolina, Michigan and Villanova.

2016 Schedule

In addition, the home schedule highlights include an intra-Triad tilt with Elon and contests in Vert Stadium against Big South rivals Coastal Carolina and Liberty.

“I’m excited for a new season with a new and talented team,” Boswell said. “We are diligently preparing for our 2016 opponents. Our schedule is one of the toughest we’ve faced in the last five years, and I couldn’t be more excited to see how this team matches up with some of the top teams and players in the country.”

HPU opens the 2016 season with a bang on February 12, when the Panthers host ACC power North Carolina inside Vert Stadium. The Tar Heels ended the 2015 campaign ranked second in the national polls and advanced to the NCAA Championship game, where UNC fell to top-ranked Maryland.

High Point continues play against ACC competition on Feb. 21, as the Purple & White head to Blacksburg, Va., to take on Virginia Tech. The Panthers won last season’s matchup with the Hokies, 10-6, in Vert Stadium.

HPU returns home to battle 2015 NCAA Tournament participant James Madison on Feb. 28 at 3 p.m., then continues the homestand on March 2 against Villanova. The Panthers will be looking to avenge a triple-overtime loss to the Wildcats last season in Philadelphia.

HPU will spend spring break in the lush greenery of the Pacific Northwest while taking on a talented Oregon team on March 7 in Eugene. The Panthers fell to the Ducks by a one-goal margin (9-8) last year at home and will be looking for victory in the back end of this home-and-home series.

The Panthers return to North Carolina for a March 11 game at former NLC and Big South foe Davidson. HPU defeated the Wildcats at home last season, 9-7.

HPU’s marquee non-conference home slate continues on March 13 when the Purple & White battle Michigan at noon. High Point remains at home to wrap up non-conference play against rival Elon on March 22.

The Panthers open Big South play on March 26 against Coastal Carolina, before heading to Buies Creek for a matchup with Campbell on March 30.

HPU continues the road trip at Presbyterian on April 2, then returns to Vert Stadium for back-to-back home tilts against Liberty (April 13) and Radford (April 16). The Highlanders will be competing in their first ever season in women’s lacrosse.

The Panthers wrap up the regular season with road matchups against Longwood (April 20) and the defending Big South champion Winthrop Eagles (April 23). HPU split a pair of meetings with the Eagles last season.

The 2016 Big South Championship will be split up over two weeks, with quarterfinal action taking place on April 30. The semifinals and final will be held May 5 and May 7, respectively. All tournament games will be held on the home turf of the top-seeded team heading into the event.

HPU has won two of the first three Big South Championships and four conference titles overall in the program’s first five seasons. The Panthers have posted an all-time Big South record of 31-4 (.886) and are a perfect 18-0 all time against Big South opponents at home.

The Panthers return 21 of 28 letter winners and nine of 12 starters from last season’s team, including All-Big South First Team selections Allie Foard, Leah Pace and Erica Perrotta. HPU also welcomes a talented 13-member freshman class to the roster that will look to make an immediate impact for the Panthers in 2016.