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HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women's lacrosse team begins its quest for the 2016 Big South Championship Friday when the Panthers host second-ranked North Carolina inside Vert Stadium.
 
First draw between the Panthers and Tar Heels is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Big South Network, with live stats also available via highpointpanthers.com.
 
MEIER, FOARD APPROACHING 100 CAREER POINTS
Seniors Emily Meier and Allie Foard open the 2016 campaign with a chance to end their careers as two of the most productive offensive players in program history. Meier (88p: 65g, 23a) is just 12 points away from becoming the sixth 100-point scorer in HPU annals. Foard (85p: 55g, 30a) needs 15 points to join the 100-point club.
 
PANTHERS PICKED SECOND, EARN TRIO OF ALL-CONFERENCE PICKS
HPU was picked second out of nine teams in the 2016 Big South preseason poll. Winthrop was picked to repeat as Big South champion for the second-straight campaign. HPU's three returning All-Big South First Team selections from 2015 garnered preseason all-league accolades in 2016. That group includes senior attack Allie Foard, senior midfielder Leah Pace and sophomore midfielder Erica Perrotta.
 
DEFENSIVE UNIT BLENDS READY RETURNERS, FRESH FACES
High Point returns three of four defensive starters from a year ago, including junior captain Christina Del Sesto, senior Tori Dunster and sophomore Olivia Nostrant. HPU will look to replace the production of departing 2015 First Team All-Big South selection Katie McLaughlin with a strong group that includes junior Jianela Rincon, sophomore Casey Kotchenreuter and freshman Hayley Norris.
 
HPU will welcome a new starting goalie for the first time in three seasons - freshman Molly Andrews. Andrews replaces two-time All-Big South goalie Julia Burns, who departs as the all-time HPU leader in saves and save percentage. Andrews is off to a great start to her 2016 campaign and will look to challenge for Big South all-freshman honors this season.
 
HISTORY vs. UNC
High Point and North Carolina will meet for the fourth time in six years Friday. UNC has won the previous three matchups, including a 19-5 win in Chapel Hill to open the 2015 season. Friday's opener marks the first time the Tar Heels have make the trek to HPU.
 
A LOOK AT THE NO. 2 TAR HEELS (1-0, 0-0 ACC)
North Carolina was picked to finish second in the 2016 ACC preseason poll, just two points behind No. 3 Syracuse. The Tar Heels are coming off a 2015 season in which the program posted an 18-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the fifth time in the past seven years. UNC fell to national champion Maryland, 9-8, in the NCAA title game.
 
This season, North Carolina is restocked and reloaded with nine preseason All-Americans and a quartet of preseason All-ACC selections. The Tar Heels opened the 2016 campaign with a 11-7 victory over No. 21 James Madison on Feb. 6 in Harrisonburg, Va. The team is led by 2015 first team All-American and consensus Goalie of the Year Caylee Walters, a junior who made seven saves in the opener against the Dukes. She was named preseason first team All-America, along with junior midfielder Maggie Bill, who did not play against JMU in the opener. Senior attack Aly Messinger posted five points (4g, 1a) in the win.
 
NEXT UP
The Panthers return to action next Saturday (Feb. 21) with a contest at ACC foe Virginia Tech. First draw in Blacksburg is scheduled for 2 p.m. The Panthers won last season's meeting with the Hokies, 10-6, inside Vert Stadium.

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