• Senior Allie Foard led HPU with five points (4g, 1a)
• Fellow senior Emily Meier added four points (2g, 2a)
• Freshman Molly Andrews made seven saves and allowed just three goals in 51:20
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s lacrosse team remained perfect in Big South play with a 19-3 dispatching of Gardner-Webb on Wednesday night inside Vert Stadium.
High Point (8-4, 4-0) led 9-1 after the game’s first 15 minutes and closed the game on a 4-0 run to cruise to the 16-goal victory.
HPU held an impressive 19-4 edge in draw controls for the game and was +17 (29-12) in shots. The Panthers also converted a solid 4-of-6 attempts (.667) from the free position.
“One of our focuses going into conference play has been to start games strong, win draws and get to the cage. We did that well today,” head coach Lyndsey Boswell said. “The leadership from our senior group has been excellent and continues to drive us. No matter their role on the team, each senior is fulfilling that role and I’m excited with how we’re playing.”
For the second-straight game, more than 10 players posted at least one point for the Panther offense.
Senior Allie Foard paced the Panthers with her second-straight 5-point effort. The Severna Park, Md., native registered four goals and an assist while fellow senior Emily Meier tallied four points on two goals and two assists. Freshman Emory Gaeng matched Meier with a pair of goals and an assists, marking the first 4-point effort of her career.
In the midfield, senior Kristina Renner matched her career best with three goals and tallied a season high six draw controls to go along with three ground balls and a caused turnover.
Defensively, sophomore Olivia Nostrant and senior Tori Dunster paced the HPU defense with three caused turnovers. In goal, freshman Molly Andrews played 51:20 of a possible 60 minutes and made seven saves while allowing just three goals.
High Point scored eight of the game’s first nine goals. After a Gardner-Webb score, two goals from Renner and a goal apiece from Meier and sophomore Erica Perrotta fueled a 4-0 run to close the half. The Panthers led 13-2 at the break.
High Point increased the run to 7-0 to start the second half, as the Purple & White ballooned their lead to 14 (16-2) with 25:32 to play.
The Panthers then held Gardner-Webb scoreless over the final 17:58 and posted four goals during the stretch. Senior Natalie Devine tied her career best with two goals during the spurt.
HPU is now 4-0 in Big South play for the second time in three seasons and improves to 17-0 all-time against Big South opponents inside Vert Stadium.
The Panthers take a week-long competitive hiatus before returning to action next Wednesday (Apr. 13) with a home tilt vs. Liberty (2-10, 1-2). First draw between the Panthers and Flames is set for 4 p.m.