No. 13 HPU MLAX Panthers Comeback to Beat Drexel, 15-14, in Overtime

• Junior Ben Baker scored three goals for the third-straight game for HPU.
• Sophomore Asher Nolting and redshirt senior Chris Young led the HPU with five points each.
• Sophomore Koby Russell scored the game winner the Panthers with 41 second remaining in overtime.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The High Point University men’s lacrosse team defeated Drexel, 15-14, in overtime in Philadelphia, Pa.

High Point (3-0) put 19-of-43 shots on goal and grabbed 30 ground balls, while Drexel (0-1) had 27-of-50 shots on goal and 48 groundballs. The Panthers caused 13 turnovers on the game.

“I’m really proud of the adjustments our guys made and the resiliency they showed today,” HPU head coach Jon Torpey said. “Drexel is an incredibly well coached team and they made us earn every opportunity today. Philadelphia has always been a place we love to recruit and the day was even more special with so many alumni, family, and friends in attendance.”

Junior Ben Baker led the Panthers with three goals and one assist, while sophomore Asher Nolting and redshirt senior Chris Young posted two goals and three assists apiece for HPU. Junior Dalton Sulver scored two for the Purple & White.

Junior Davis Sampere and sophomore Clayton Krol led the Panthers with four ground balls each. Sampere was the leader in the face-off ‘X’ for HPU winning 10-of-23. Senior Tim Troutner Jr. made 13 saves in the cage for High Point. Senior Griff Caliguiri was tops on the team with three caused turnovers.

The Dragons opened the fourth quarter with two goals to take a 14-12 lead. Sophomore Colin Clothier scored his first goal of the season with 6:56 remaining in the game for the Panthers to cut the score to 13-14. Young scored his second goal of the game assisted by Nolting with 5:29 remaining to tie it at 14. Neither team could score the rest of regulation and the game headed to overtime. After three minutes of scoreless play, sophomore Koby Russell scored with 41 seconds remaining in overtime off an assist from Nolting to give the Panthers the 15-14 win.

In the first quarter, the teams traded goals until the score was 3-3 with Young, Baker and freshman Hunter Vines scoring goals for the Panthers. Drexel then scored three unanswered to go up 6-3. Nolting responded for the Panthers to cut it to 4-6. After another Dragons goal, freshman Zach Diamond scored the first goal of his career. HPU trailed Drexel 5-7 after the first quarter.

Drexel opened the second quarter with two-straight goals before junior Dalton Sulver scored his second goal of the season to cut the score to 6-9. The Panthers went on a 3-1 run with goals from Baker, Nolting and Sulver to cut the lead to one at 9-10. The Dragons added one goal at the end of the quarter and HPU trailed 9-11 going into the half.

Baker got the scoring started in the second half with his third goal of the game and ninth of the season with 12:16 left in the third quarter to cut the score to 10-11. Drexel responded and scored with 7:10 remaining in the third to take a 12-10 lead. Sophomore Taylor Acra scored his first goal of the season then senior Jake Schleppy scored to tie the game at 12 going into the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, Reid Bowering led the Dragons with three goals and one assist, while Marshal King posted goals and four assists.

Up next, the Panthers will travel to Charlottesville, Va. to play No. 11 Virginia on Monday, Feb. 18. The opening face-off is set for 4 p.m.