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HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women's lacrosse team continues its challenging start to the season when the Panthers host ACC foe Virginia Tech on Friday inside Vert Stadium.
 
First draw between the Panthers (0-2) and Hokies (1-2) is scheduled for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the Big South Network.
 
The game is one of two for the Panthers this weekend, as HPU also will travel to Harrisonburg, Va., on Sunday to take on No. 20 James Madison.
 
Last time out, the Panthers dropped a 9-8 contest to Oregon on Sunday at Vert Stadium. Trailing 8-3 with 20:07 to play, HPU posted five-straight goals over the next 14 minutes to tie the score with 6:35 to go. But the Ducks' Hayley Milner scored with 4:12 to go and the Panthers could not score on a possession with less than a minute to play.
 
After not scoring at No. 2 UNC, senior Kendyl Gardner exploded for four goals in Sunday's contest, with six of her seven shots coming on goal. Junior Allie Foard tied her career high with four points on two goals and two assists, while also picking up a team-high five ground balls.
 
Foard has posted a team-high six points this season on four goals and two assists.
 
Against the Ducks, senior goalkeeper Julia Burns had a strong day in the cage, making a career-best 11 saves while allowing just nine goals in a full 60 minutes of action. She is averaging 10.0 saves/game in two contests this season.
 
The Purple & White enter Friday's game as the No. 1 Big South team in assists/game (6.0). HPU has assisted on an impressive 85.7 percent of its goals this season (12-of-14), including a 5-of-5 performance at No. 2 UNC on Feb. 13. Seven Panthers have tallied an assist this season.
 
HISTORY vs. VIRGINIA TECH
Friday's contest will mark the fifth all-time meeting between the Panthers and Hokies. The series is tied 1-1 in games played at Vert Stadium. In the most recent meeting, Virginia Tech won 11-10 on Feb. 19 last season in Blacksburg. Gardner posted two goals in the game. HPU's win in the series came during the 2013 season when the Panthers picked up a 9-5 win to open the campaign in High Point.
 
A LOOK AT THE HOKIES (1-2)
Virginia Tech has posted a 1-2 record to being the 2015 season. The Hokies won at Liberty (15-11) to open the season on Feb. 6, before falling to No. 20 JMU (13-8) on Feb. 12 and No. 11 Ohio State (14-7) on Feb. 15 in Blacksburg. VT is averaging 10.0 goals per game and allowing 12.67 per contest.
 
The team is led offensively by senior Megan Will who paces the team in goals (10) and points (13). Junior attack Jessie Thon leads the team in assists (4) and has also chipped in three goals on the year. Senior Meg Bartley has registered a team-high 12 draw controls while junior defender Meghan Macera has posted five caused turnovers to lead the Hokies. Sophomore Meagh Graham has played all 180 minutes in the cage for Virginia Tech and is averaging 9.3 saves/game and a .424 save percentage.
 
#GoHPU