The 2011 season will be the first ever for High Point University's varsity women's lacrosse team. Head coach Lyndsey Boswell and team captains Grace Gaeng and Alexis Goldman will lead the team into action.

“We are very anxious to get the season going and play different competition,” said Boswell. “We think we will be very competitive. The girls are working hard and I think we are on the right track to compete with every team on our schedule.”

As a final tuneup for the season, the Panthers played the University of Florida, Longwood and Limestone College in the South of the Border tournament last weekend in Durham, N.C. and Chapel Hill, N.C.

HPU welcomes in six transfers and 19 freshmen to start the program. Of the transfers, Gaeng joins HPU as a sophomore after playing on last year's NCAA title team at the University of Maryland. Goldman transferred to HPU in 2009-10 after playing two seasons under Boswell at St. Andrews Presbyterian College. Sophomore Courtney McLaughlin played for the University of North Carolina and junior Heather Ziccarelli won a junior college national title at Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y.

MIDFIELD
Boswell will have plenty of options at midfielder this season. Ziccarelli, a junior, will provide experience for HPU and is considered a leader in the midfield. McLaughlin will be in the mix as a leader for High Point as well. Freshmen Alec Perry, Ashleigh Kassab and Sara Kuhlman will provide the Panthers with plenty of depth.

Goldman and Boswell have a working relationship after the two years at St. Andrews. “Alexis does a really good job of controlling and directing draws and will be a huge asset in helping the team gain possession. We will look to her mostly in the draw control area,” said Boswell. Goldman scored 49 goals and had 16 assists in her two years at St. Andrews Presbyterian and earned All-Conference honors at Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Fla.

Ziccarelli earned All-Conference accolades three times at Rush Henrietta High School. “Heather is our leader in the midfield. She works hard and uses her speed to her advantage,” said Boswell.

McLaughlin brings a year of experience in the Atlantic Coast Conference after an All-American prep career at Apex High School. She led her team to three straight state titles. “She's come in and been a leader for us on the field and off the field. She is very good at reading attackers and getting the defense on the same page,” said Boswell.

Perry comes to HPU from Cape Henlopen in Lewes, Del., where she tallied 119 career goals and 57 assists. She was named first-team All-State as a junior and senior and helped Cape Henlopen to state titles both years. “Alec is one of our fastest kids. She is scrappy and goes 100 percent every single day,” said Boswell.

Kuhlman was the all-time leading goal scorer (121) and point leader (210) at Mount Notre Dame High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. “Sara has worked hard up to this point and is one of our go-to girls in the midfield,” said Boswell.

ATTACK
The Panthers have a trio of leaders at attack. Gaeng and freshmen Mackenzie Carroll and Chelsea Thompson will lead the charge for HPU. “They are the anchors on attack and always keep everyone on the same page,” said Boswell.

Gaeng, a transfer from last year's national title team at the University of Maryland, will serve as a co-captain this season for the Panthers. “Grace is dynamic and our leader on offense. Whichever way she plays, the team normally follows,” said Boswell. Gaeng led High Point with 34 goals in the five playdays during the fall season. She appeared in nine games at Maryland and played in the Terrapins' win over Marist in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Carroll earned All-Conference and All-County awards at Severn High School in Arnold, Md. “Mackenzie is a good feeder, smart player and definitely one of the leaders in the freshman class,” said Boswell.

Thompson scored 112 goals and 89 assists at Broadneck High School in Arnold, Md. She once scored eight goals in one game. “Chelsea sees the field well and is our playmaker on offense,” said Boswell.

Goldman will also play as an attacker in addition to her midfield and draw control responsibilities.

DEFENSE
Boswell will depend on all freshmen on defense. Kelsey Kirby, Christie Dougherty, Jasmine Jordan and Cissy Woodyard will handle most of the defensive duties.

Kirby comes to HPU from Liberty High School in Marriottsville, Md. “Kelsey is our strongest, most solid defender with a lot of speed and she works very hard,” said Boswell. Kirby was selected to All-Conference and All-County at Liberty High and also named her team Defensive Player of the Year.

Dougherty gives the Panthers versatility as a defensive midfielder. She helped Rocky Point High School in Rocky Point, N.Y. to county titles in 2008 and 2010. “Christie does all of the little things. She's always there for her teammates, willing to play wherever we need her and is a huge threat for us all over the field,” said Boswell.

Jordan provides speed and toughness on defense for High Point. She scored 24 goals and had 16 assists her senior year at Eastern Technical High School in Baltimore, Md and earned first-team All-Conference honors as a junior and senior. “Jasmine has taken her game to the next level since the fall. She is fast, relentless and a solid overall defender,” said Boswell.

Woodyard earned All-Conference accolades at Mt. Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. “Cissy came here on a mission, ready to achieve something and she has done that. She's very coachable, listens to everything we say and improves every day,” said Boswell.

GOALIES
Sophomore Lauren Hayes, a transfer from the University of Connecticut, will be the Panthers' regular goalie in 2011. Hayes was an All-Section selection at Yorktown High School in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. and was also an All-America honorable mention. “Lauren has come a long way. We're working hard with her, she's bought in and ready to fully commit to being our goalie,” said Boswell.

NATIONAL LACROSSE CONFERENCE
High Point University joins the National Lacrosse Conference in 2011 and will play its first league game on the road at Presbyterian on March 3. The eight-team league also includes Davidson, Howard, Jacksonville, Liberty and Detroit.