ELON, N.C. – Coming off a victory at Davidson, the Elon women’s lacrosse team looks to make it two straight wins over in-state opponents when it travels to High Point for its next game on Tuesday, March 22. Opening draw is set for 7 p.m. in Vert Stadium in High Point, N.C.
Last Time Out
Off a career-high matching seven points in the game by Sloane Kessler, the Elon cruised to a 12-6 win in its last game at Davidson on March 19. Kessler matched her season high with a game-high four goals in the game and added a season-high three assists to equal her career high in points. The Phoenix outshot the Wildcats, 23-17, and claimed the advantage in ground balls, 18-15. Elon finished a near perfect 13-of-14 in clear attempts and had five caused turnovers. The two teams finished even with 10 draw controls each. Anna Vitton and Abby Godfrey both followed with two scores on the day, while Nicole Sinacori also had two points with a goal and an assist. Maeve Cowley, Shelby Scanlin and Kelsey Dupere also notched scores for the maroon and gold. Olivia Fernandez tallied a game-high four ground balls, while Scanlin led the Phoenix at the draw with four draw controls. Rachel Ramirez tallied her sixth win of the season between the pipes, playing for almost 55 minutes for a 44.4 save percentage after four saves off 10 shots-on-goal by the Wildcats. Tori Cipollone played her first minutes of the season, seeing action in the final five minutes of the game.
Scouting the Panthers
High Point is currently 4-3 on the season after an 11-6 win over Michigan in its last game on March 13. The Panthers’ game against Elon marks the last non-conference matchup of the season before HPU begins Big South play on Saturday, March 26. High Point ranks fourth and fifth in the NCAA in caused turnovers per game (12.86) and ground balls per game (22.14), respectively, also leading the conference in both categories. Samantha Brown is the team leader in goals, assists and points after 16 goals, nine assists and 25 points on the season. She also ranks seventh nationally in free-position goals per game (1.14) and has the seventh best free-position percentage in the country (72.7 percent). Emily Meier is close behind with 14 goals and nine assists for 23 points this season. Leah Pace leads the Panthers with 18 ground balls on the year and has six caused turnovers, while Hayley Norris has tallied a team-high 13 caused turnovers and 14 ground balls. Eight HPU players all have double-digit numbers in ground balls this season along with four in double digits in caused turnovers.
The Series
The all-time series between the Phoenix and the Panthers is even, 1-1. HPU won the first meeting in Elon’s inaugural season on March 30, 2014, in High Point, N.C., with an 11-4 final. The next season on March 11, 2015, the maroon and gold tallied a 16-10 victory in Rhodes Stadium after five goals by Stephanie Asher and three each by Abby Godfrey and Nicole Sinacori.
Common Opponents
The Phoenix and the Panthers have faced two common opponents so far this season in North Carolina and Davidson. Both teams fell to the ranked Tar Heels as UNC claimed a 17-5 win at HPU on Feb. 12 and a 13-2 victory at Elon on March 15. While the Panthers suffered a 12-7 setback against the Wildcats on March 11, the maroon and gold took a 12-6 final at Davidson in its last game on March 19.
Conference/National Rankings
At this point in the season, the Phoenix ranks near the top of the Colonial Athletic Association in several statistical categories. The team is third in ground balls (15.44/game) and third in shots (24.33/game). Stephanie Asher ranks 21st nationally and second in the league with her 21 goals this year and is fourth in the CAA in scoring with 2.33 goals per game, while Sloane Kessler ranks sixth with her 2.22 goals/game. Asher also ranks first in shots per game with 7.0, while Rachel Ramirez is fourth in saves (5.78/game), first in ground balls (3.0/game) and third in caused turnovers (1.78/game).
Next Up
Elon has a break until it opens Colonial Athletic Association play in its next game on Friday, April 8, when the Phoenix hosts Delaware to Rudd Field for a 7 p.m. game.