Site: Durham, N.C. (Koskinen Stadium)
Score: Maryland 17, High Point 6
Records: HPU 10-8 (6-0 Big South), Maryland 10-6 (6-5 Big Ten)
DURHAM, N.C. — The High Point University Women’s Lacrosse team had their historic season come to an end after the Panthers made their sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament. HPU fell to the defending NCAA champions, Maryland 17-6 on Friday night (May 14).
Head Coach Lindsey Boswell: “A lot of credit goes to Maryland they should be proud of themselves, the way they came out, I am proud of the way we started the game and I feel that there are a lot of good takeaways as we move forward as a program. Not the outcome we were looking for, definitely some areas we did not prepare for, but overall proud of the girls and their season.”
Graduate Student, Team Captain Ashley Britton: “There is one thing that High Point never does and it is that we never give up. That was so evident tonight, obviously, things didn’t go our way but it is so clear that we have grit, we have fight, we have fire, and that is what High Point is all about.”
Panther Particulars
- HPU started the game red hot, Megan Nerney won the opening drive, and then it was off the to races for the Panthers, Rachel Foster put HPU on the board first as she was able to get open and score to put HPU up 1-0. Emma Genovese assisted Foster much to the delight of all the Panthers on the field as they greeted Foster with hugs after she scored in less than a minute to start the game.
- Foster scored the first and last goals of the game, she was the lone Panther to score multiple goals on the night.
- HPU kept their foot on the gas, after a Maryland goal Mena Loescher responded with one of her own. Loescher drove from X and then rolled away from the Terp defender guarding her and created an open opportunity for herself in front of cage and finished. Loescher made it 2-1 for HPU putting them back in the lead with 25:39 to play in the first half.
- Maryland tied it back up and the Panthers were able to keep it locked at two for several minutes. Jill Rall had a strong 60-minute performance in her final contest as a Panther. Rall finished with four saves while also contributing to the Panther defensive effort throughout the game.
- With 19:53 to play Nicole Pugh helped HPU regain the lead at 3-2 as she was able to score as well. Following a Terp timeout, they went on a 9-1 run to tend the half and took an 11-4 advantage into halftime.
- Abby Hormes scored her 76th goal of the season to give HPU their fifth goal of the contest with 6:30 left in the second half.
- Kaely Kyle scored as well in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, giving HPU five scorers in the game.
High ‘Points’ of the Game
HPU finishes the season 10-8 marks the tenth season (out of 11 total seasons) that HPU has finished with a winning record. It is also the fourth consecutive season High Point finished with an undefeated record against Big South opponents.