• Sophomore Asher Nolting led the Panthers with seven points (4 goals and three assists) and scored the game winner with six seconds remaining.
• The Panthers claimed at least a share of the SoCon Regular Season Championship and the No. 1-seed in the SoCon Championship with the win.
• Junior Davis Sampere grabbed a program-record 18 ground balls and won a program-record 22 face-offs.
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The No. 12 High Point University men’s lacrosse team defeated Richmond, 15-14, on Saturday, April 27. The win gives the Panthers at least a share of the Southern Conference (SoCon) Regular Season Championship for the second-straight year and the No. 1-seed in the SoCon Championship next week.
High Point (12-2, 6-1) won 25-of-31 face-offs and logged a 19-20 record on clears, while Richmond (8-6, 5-2) was 6-31 at the face-off ‘X’ and 21-23 in clearing opportunities. The Panthers grabbed 42 ground balls and caused nine turnovers.
Richmond tied the game at 14-14 with 1:13 left in the game. Junior Davis Sampere won the next face-off and High Point held for the last shot. Sophomore Asher Nolting scored his fourth of the day and gave the Panthers the win as the goal went in the cage with six seconds remaining in the game.
“I’m just proud of our seniors on senior day,” HPU head coach Jon Torpey said. “We’re celebrating seven guys who have given their heart and soul to the program. I think you saw the guys play for them today. That was a testament to the type of leaders and the type of people they are. It’s just a special win.”
Nolting led the Panthers with seven points on four goals and three assists, while Young and junior Dalton Sulver both added three goals and one assist for HPU. Sampere won a program-record 22 face-offs and grabbed a program-record 18 ground balls. Senior Tim Troutner Jr. saved 13 shots and grabbed three ground balls.
The Panthers held an 11-10 lead going into the fourth quarter then Richmond tied the game at 11-11 with 12:17 left. Sophomore Sean Coughlin gave HPU a 12-11 lead with 11:46 left in the game, but Richmond quickly tied it again at 12-12. Redshirt senior Chris Young put the Purple & White up 13-12 then the Spiders responded and tied it at 13-13. Sophomore Koby Russell scored off an assist from senior Jake Schleppy to give HPU a 14-13 lead.
Sulver and Nolting scored three goals, Young logged two and senior Jake Schleppy, sophomore Tyler Stinson and freshman Hunter Vines all netted one goal for the Panthers through the first three quarters.
Sampere broke the single-season program-record for ground balls with his 96th of the season. Jamie Piluso previously held the record at 95.
This is the Panthers’ third regular season conference championship and second SoCon regular season championship in program history. HPU took the 2014 Atlantic Sun Regular Season and the 2018 SoCon Regular Season Championships.
HPU will be the No. 1 seed in the SoCon Tournament starting Thursday, May 2. The Purple & White will play No. 4 Jacksonville at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at Vert Stadium in High Point, N.C., in the SoCon semifinals.