(Elon Report with High Point Report below)
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Elon women’s lacrosse team tallied its second straight win with a 12-8 final at High Point tonight, March 22, at Vert Stadium. The Phoenix never trailed in the game as Sloane Kessler led the team with six points after three goals and three assists and recorded four ground balls.
The Phoenix (7-3) outshot the Panthers, 30-14, claimed a 24-11 advantage in ground balls and finished a perfect 13-for-13 in clear attempts. Shelby Scanlin also tallied three goals for the maroon and gold to go along with five draw controls and two ground balls. Stephanie Asher and Abby Godfrey each netted two scores, while Maeve Cowley and Nicole Sinacori added both tallied one on the night.
Rachel Ramirez posted the win in goal, recording five saves off 13 shots on goal by the Panthers, matched her career high with six ground balls and caused two turnovers.
The Panthers (4-4) finished with 14 shots in the game, 13 of which were on goal and finished 10-of-13 in clear attempts. HPU saw a game-high four goals from Erica Perrotta followed by two from Samantha Herman, who also added an assist for three points.
Highlights
Asher got the Phoenix on the board at the 26:56, making it 1-0, after Ramirez grabbed a ground ball off a blocked HPU shot. The Panthers quickly evened the game less than 30 seconds later off a goal by Emily Meier with 26:31 remaining.
Kessler was granted a free-position opportunity with 13:07 on the clock, notching her 21st goal of the season to put the maroon and gold in front, 2-1. HPU answered again, evening the game at two-all.
With 2:59 to play, Kessler found Scanlin for a score to move the Phoenix ahead, 3-2, before Sinacori netted a free-position goal with just over 90 seconds left to make it a 4-2 Elon lead at the break.
The Panthers wasted no time in the second half closing the gap to one, 4-3, after a Samantha Herman score at the 29:18 mark. Cowley made it a 5-3 game with her 12th goal of the season with 24:14 on the clock before another score by Kessler, assisted by Vitton, just 34 seconds later to put the Phoenix up by three, 6-3. Godfrey netted the third straight for the maroon and gold with 20:32 remaining to make it a four-goal advantage, 7-3.
After an HPU score, Kessler found Scanlin for a goal at the 14:38 mark to make it 8-4 before the two teams traded scores once again, capped by a Godfrey free-position goal with 12:30 left for a 9-5 game.
With 9:49 to play, Elon notched its third Kessler to Scanlin goal of the game for a 10-6 edge. Asher netted her second goal of the game with five minutes left before Kessler added a free-position goal with 2:17 remaining for Elon’s final score of the 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.
• Sophomore Erica Perrotta led the Panthers with a career-high four goals
• Freshman goalie Mollie Andrews made a solid 11 saves in the cage
• HPU opens up conference play Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest vs. Coastal Carolina inside Vert Stadium
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s lacrosse team (4-4) dropped a 12-8 contest to Elon (7-3) on Tuesday night inside Vert Stadium.
Playing without leading scorer Samantha Brown due to injury, the Panthers trailed by two at the half (4-2) and cut it to one (4-3) less than a minute into the second. But the Phoenix used a 3-0 run midway through the period to take control of the game.
Sophomore Erica Perrotta led the Panthers offensively with a career-best four goals, including three in the second half.
“I’m proud of Erica and her efforts, as well as our defense collectively,” head coach Lyndsey Boswell said. “Our defense stayed strong and kept us in the game. Offneisvely, I was disappointed with our execution. We lacked the passion and intensity necessary to win and we need to be able to put a full 60 minutes together.”
Freshman Samantha Herman tallied three points (2g, 1a) for the second straight game while also chipping in a pair of draw controls and ground balls. Senior Emily Meier added two points (1g, 1a) and picked up a pair of ground balls for the Purple & White.
Junior Christina Del Sesto caused three turnovers to lead the Panther close defense while freshman goalie Mollie Andrews made a solid 11 saves in the cage in a full 60 minutes of action.
Elon posted the first goal of the game at the 26:56 mark of the opening half, but HPU answered just 24 seconds later on a goal from Meier.
After 13 minutes of scoreless action, Elon went back up one (2-1) on a goal from Sloane Kessler. HPU provided the equalizer (2-2) six minutes later on a nice dodge and finish from senior Kristina Renner with 7:16 to play in the half.
The Phoenix scored the final two goals of the half to take a 4-2 lead into the break.
Meier found Herman for a score just 42 seconds into the second half, but from there, Elon utilized its key 3-0 run over the next nine minutes to build a 7-3 advantage with 20:32 to go in the contest.
Perrotta scored a minute later to make it 7-4, but the Elon lead again rose to four (8-4) at the 12:30 mark. Perrotta earned her hat trick at the 11:01 mark to again pull HPU within three (9-6), but Elon scored the next two goals to seal the game for the Phoenix.
High Point now opens Big South play Saturday with a home tilt against Coastal Carolina. First draw between the Panthers and Chanticleers is set for 1 p.m. inside Vert Stadium.