HPU Women’s Lacrosse Tops Presbyterian in Final Big South Game

CLINTON, S.C. – The High Point University women’s lacrosse team beat Presbyterian, 16-10, in the final Big South Conference game of the season on Saturday in Clinton, S.C. Senior Grace Gaeng and junior Mackenzie Carroll scored four goals each.

“While I am glad we got the win, we didn’t come out with the energy and passion we had in practice all week,” said head coach Lyndsey Boswell. “It is always good to have everyone contribute and see the younger girls gain experience so we will take that as a positive and move on to tomorrow’s game against Ohio State.”

The Panthers improve to 8-7 overall and 6-1 in Big South play. Presbyterian College drops to 2-15 and 0-7 in league games.

Gaeng added two assists, four draw controls and one caused turnover to her four goals. Alec Perry, Kendyl Gardner and Natalie Devine scored two goals each. Gardner also picked up four ground balls. Sara Kuhlman and Christie Dougherty won three draw controls each.

Senior Anna Wallingford played the first 34 minutes and made two saves. Julia Burns played the rest of the game and made two saves.

Carroll scored the first goal of the game, five minutes in to play and Kuhlman followed with a goal four minutes later to take a 2-0 lead. The Blue Hose tied the game 3-3 on a goal by Lauren Lefeber with 14:23 on the clock in the first half.

The Panthers went on a six-goal run to open up a 9-3 lead at the end of the first half. Perry had two goals in the run.

Brianne Ward opened the second half with a goal for Presbyterian and Lefeber scored again to cut HPU’s lead to 9-5. Stephanie Pazulski won the ensuing draw control and Carroll scored to push HPU’s lead back to five goals.

With 19:20 on the clock HPU scored the first of three goals in just over a minute to open up a 14-6 lead. Gardner, Gaeng and Carroll all found the back of the net.

Devine scored, assisted by Allie Foard, with 7:27 left in the game, to make it a 16-7 HPU lead. The Blue Hose scored the final three goals of the game to make the final score 16-10.

HPU outshot the Blue Hose 32-15 and won 18 draw controls to Presbyterian’s 10. HPU went 13-for-15 on clear attempts and picked up 26 ground balls while Presbyterian picked up 14.

High Point wraps up the regular season on Sunday with a 1 p.m. game against Ohio State at Vert Stadium. Seniors Grace Gaeng, Courtney McLaughling and Anna Wallingford will be honored before the game.