Site: Charlottesville, Va. (Klockner Stadium)

 Score:  #6 UVA 18, High Point 15

 Records:  #6 Virginia (3-1), High Point (1-4)

 Next HPU Event: Saturday, Feb. 29 -- at Robert Morris (Joe Walton Stadium)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.-- The High Point University men's lacrosse team (1-4) dropped a close contest to Virginia (3-1) 18-15. The Panthers put together a spirited effort for four quarters. Redshirt freshman Devon Buckshot stole the show on ESPNU on Tuesday night (Feb 25.). Buckshot finished with a team-high five goals and one assist for six points on the night.

"I thought the guys' effort was fantastic," Coach Jon Torpey said. "I thought we made some elite adjustments both with the staff and with the guys on the field and the guys off the field. A couple of bounces go here or there in the fourth, I think we put ourselves in a great position to win that game unfortunately, sometimes the ball doesn't go your way. Hats off to them, great staff, great team, a national champion-caliber team just overall proud, and looking forward to getting back on the field with these guys." 

Virginia scored first going up 1-0. HPU answered by going on a 4-0 run to start the first quarter. Dalton Sulver scored two goals in the first while Taylor Acra and Koby Russell each added a goal as well, that gave HPU a 4-1 lead. UVA called a timeout. Sulver's goals continued his streak of scoring in every game he has played in this year. Sulver has six goals on the season. Virginia went on a five-goal run after the timeout, the Hoos led 6-4 after the first quarter. 

Buckshot scored his first goal of the night in the second quarter with eight minutes and forty-four seconds left in the half to cut the Cavs lead to two at 7-5. UVA scored three more goals to stretch their lead ten to five. The Panthers came charging back, Buckshot picked up his second goal of the game to make it 10-6. Asher Nolting helped the Panther cause by scoring the seventh High Point goal with 2:31 left in the first half. HPU's defense made some big stops down the stretch, the score at the break was 10-7.

High Point came out of the break knowing they were within striking distance. UVA scored the first goal of the second half. Sulver and Buckshot would have an answer. Buckshot came down the field, as he got closer to the goal he was picked up by three defenders, he was able to find Sulver who scored to put the score at 12-9. Later, PJ Peters caused a turnover, Nick Walsh picked up the ground ball ran down the field and passed it to Colin Clothier who spun around avoiding his defender and scored to make it a two-point game with 9:09 remaining. On a man-up opportunity, the Panthers took advantage as Sean Coughlin scored to make it a 2-goal game. UVA scored a goal to answer. Nolting on a transition play found an open Grant Ammann who scored a goal to again make it a two-goal game with 2:06 remaining in the third. With a minute and nine seconds remaining Russell scored to make it just a one-goal game. The Panthers got the last possession of the third quarter. Nolting drove to the goal but was swarmed by defenders and lost the ball, just as it looked the clock was going to expire Buckshot picked up the loose ball and scored as time expired. Buckshot's buzzer-beating goal tied the game at 13. Nolting had three assists in the third quarter alone.

The Cavaliers made the first move in the fourth quarter to go up 14-13. Buckshot scored with 11:11 left in the fourth quarter as he was assisted by Nolting. Buckshot tied the game once again at 14. Less than two minutes later UVA would regain the lead to go up one (15-14). With 9:32 left, the magic continued as Buckshot once again found the back of the net to tie the game at 15. High Point had high-quality chances during the six-minute-long scoreless period of the 4th quarter, but UVA goalie Alex Rode made some big saves down the stretch. 

Nolting finished with six points on the evening. Nolting has recorded a point in every game he played in at HPU (35 games). His 35-game streak ranks 14th in the nation. He has 179 points during this steak. He is also currently on a 21-game goal streak with 51 goals scored during this stretch. Nolting is the SOCON's active leader in points. 

"Devon had five goals and an assist, Asher had 1 goal and 5 assists. Bucky is an elite player he does a lot of cool things inside, he has a great support staff down there with that attack group and the midfield. I thought all the guys just played so incredibly unselfish today and I am really proud of the effort. It didn't go our away but like I said those guys are awesome." Coach Torpey said.

Parker Green played the entire game, he bounced back with a double-digit save performance against the #6 Cavaliers. Green brought in 15 saves during the night.

Up Next: the Panthers travel to Pennsylvania to face Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pa. on Saturday (Feb. 29)

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