High Point WLAX Falls in NCAA First Round to Denver, 19-10

• The Panthers finish the season with a school-record 17 wins
• Senior Erica Perrotta finishes her HPU career with a school-record 148 career goals
• Senior Brooke Stevens tied the school record for points in a season with 87

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The No. 16/17 High Point University women’s lacrosse team fell to Denver, 19-10, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday (May 11) at the University of Maryland’s Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.

The Panthers finish the season at 17-3 after going undefeated to win the Big South regular season and tournament championships. The 17 wins this season were a school record, previously set last season with 16. It was the Panthers’ second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

“I’m really happy for the girls that they were able to get back here again this year,” HPU head coach Lyndsey Boswell said. “I didn’t think we gave our best game today so I’m disappointed obviously in the outcome, but I have no doubt this team will be back next year.”

Senior Erica Perrotta led the team with four points on two goals and two assists. Perrotta finishes her HPU career with the school record for career goals (148), shots (339), shots on goal (243) and caused turnovers (129). She also had 235 career points, which ranks second in program history. Perrotta became the first Panther to be named all-region when she was named to the IWLCA All-South Second Team earlier on Friday.

Fellow senior Brooke Stevens had a goal and an assist to finish the season with a school-record 50 assists and 87 points, tied for the school record with Sam Brown from 2017. Stevens finished her career with 175 points, fourth-most in school history. Senior Olivia Nostrant finished her career in the Purple & White ranking fourth all-time with 82 caused turnovers.

Freshman Abby Hormes added a goal and finished the season with 59 for the season, the second-most in HPU single-season history.

Senior Erin Ilchuk recorded a hat trick and sophomore Ashley Britton scored two, while junior Samantha Herman also tallied a goal.

The Pioneers (13-6) scored nine of the first 10 goals in the second half to take the advantage. Denver held the advantage at the draw circle, 21-10, and in shots, 32-28.

The first half was back and forth with four ties and two lead changes. The Pioneers took a 5-3 lead before goals from Hormes and Perrotta tied the game with 13:26 remaining. Denver tallied the next three goals before Britton and Perrotta pulled the Panthers within one at the halftime break, 8-7.