Kuhlman, Goldman Each Score Four In HPU Women’s Lacrosse Win Over Detroit

DETROIT, Mich. — Sophomore Sara Kuhlman and senior Alexis Goldman scored four goals each as the High Point University women’s lacrosse team beat Detroit, 19-8, on Sunday afternoon at Titan Field in Detroit, Mich. Senior attacker Grace Gaeng had eight assists. The Titans scored the first three goals before HPU went on a six-goal run and pulled away in the second half.

“We overcame a defensive lapse early in the game to get the win today,” said HPU head coach Lyndsey Boswell. “Individually I thought Sara and Alexis did a good job of both scoring and getting draw controls. Grace stepped into a different role today, distributing the ball. We’re happy to be 10-3 going into the last part of our season.”

Goldman also had a game-high six draw controls and Kuhlman posted three draw controls and three ground balls. Gaeng’s eight assists were a program record for the Panthers. Sophomore attacker Mackenzie Carroll had three goals and two assists and senior Heather Ziccarelli had three goals, four ground balls and two draw controls. Freshman Kendyl Gardner matched her season high with three points on two goals and an assist.

It was Senior Day for Detroit and the Titans were led by senior Anna Eidem’s three goals and senior Emily Boissonnealt’s two goals and an assist. Eidem also had five ground balls and three draw controls. Junior midfielder Zaynib Hamze scored twice and had three ground balls.

High Point improved to 10-3 overall and 4-0 in the National Lacrosse Conference while Detroit dropped to 4-8 overall and 3-2 in the NLC.

Detroit scored the first three goals of the game before High Point went on a six-goal run and led the rest of the way. The Titans’ Eidem scored off a turnover with 26:31 on the clock. After a weather delay, Hamze scored on a free-position goal and Boissonnealt scored with 21:05 on the clock just after she was fouled.

Two Kuhlman draw controls led to the Panthers’ first two goals. Down 3-0, Goldman scored the first goal of the game with 20:45 left on the clock. At 20:23, Gardner scored on a free-position shot from the left side. The Panthers tied it up when Ziccarelli scored on a pass from Gaeng with 19:29 on the clock.

High Point took its first lead, 4-3, when Carroll made a pass from behind the net to Kuhlman, who scored from just in front of the crease. Goldman’s second goal with 17:21 on the clock made it 5-3 and Detroit called timeout. The Titans were able to keep the Panthers off the board for almost four minutes before Gardner scored her second goal, this time on a quick pass from Gaeng.

Detroit got back on the board and made it 6-4 when Hamze intercepted a pass in the HPU zone and took it in for a goal with 12:22 on the clock. The Panthers answered right back, however, as sophomore midfielder Christie Dougherty potted a goal on an assist from Gaeng with 11:46 on the clock. Gaeng assisted on her third-straight HPU goal with a pass to Kuhlman that made it 8-4 with 11:08 left in the first half.

Detroit scored the last two goals of the first to make it 8-6 at the break. Boissonnealt made it 8-5 when she came around the left side of the cage and shot the ball into the top right corner with 3:59 on the clock. Eidem got Detroit back within two when she got a low shot through traffic and into the net with 1:22 left.

The Panthers pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Titans 11-2 in the period including the first six goals. The first came when Gardner was fouled after a successful clear and, when play resumed, she made a quick pass to Ziccarelli on her left. Ziccarelli scored with 27:13 left in the game. Ziccarelli scored again and Carroll scored twice on the six-goal run along with goals by Goldman and defender Jasmine Jordan.

Detroit’s Eidem scored with 15:40 remaining, making it 14-7, before High Point went on another five-goal run. Kuhlman scored twice and freshman Katie McLaughlin scored her second career goal in the final 13:13.

HPU junior Anna Wallingford made seven saves in the cage, including one in the closing seconds. Detroit’s Lexie McCormick made the start and had 12 saves in the first 52:06 before she was relieved by Alysca Valentine for the final 7:54.

The Panthers return to High Point to finish the regular season with three straight home games. HPU hosts Liberty on Friday, April 20, Longwood on April 22 and Davidson on April 28 before playing in the NLC Tournament at Davidson May 4-6.