No. 20 Panthers Host No. 7 Duke in Home Opener
GAME INFO
Saturday, Feb. 8 -- vs. #7 Duke (Vert Stadium), Noon
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The No. 20-ranked High Point University men's lacrosse team (0-1) returns to Vert Stadium for its home opener when it hosts No. 7-ranked Duke (0-1) on Saturday (Feb. 8) afternoon.
In anticipation of a capacity crowd for Saturday's game, High Point University will be providing shuttles from the College Village Shopping Center to Vert Stadium. We are encouraging fans to take advantage of this service. The Shuttles will start at 11 am.
 
The first 200 fans will receive a schedule magnet and a schedule poster. The first 300 students will receive an HPU men's lacrosse long sleeve shirt.
 
There will be a tailgate starting at 10 a.m. for the first 600 students and alumni presented by Sheetz. The Sheetz tailgate will feature hotdogs, burgers, wings, chips, soda and water.
 
There will be a cash bar available to all fans 21 and older starting at 10 am. The cash bar will close at the end of halftime. Alcoholic beverages must not enter Vert Stadium, please drink responsibly. 

Matchup History

• Duke leads the series against High Point 5-1, the Panthers are 3-7 all-time against the ACC.
• The last meeting between the two came in 2019 as High Point defeated No. 2 Duke 13-9 in Durham at Koskinen Stadium on Feb. 6. Ben Baker scored three goals against the Blue Devils while Koby Russell and Asher Nolting added two goals each in the victory.
• High Point is hosting Duke for the second time in program history. Duke last came to Vert Stadium in 2015, which set the current Vert stadium attendance record of 2,451 fans. Duke won in a very close contest 16-13. 

Panther Notes 

• Nolting has recorded at least one point in every game he has played in at HPU (31 games). His 31-game streak ranks 14th in the nation. He has 162 points during this steak. He is also currently on a 17-game goal streak with 45 goals scored during this stretch.
• Parker Green had the most saves by any goalie in the nation on opening weekend recording 20 saves.
• Tyler Hendrycks' three goals is the most goals scored by a freshman in the first game of the season since 2013 when Dan Lomas scored five against Delaware. Hendryk's three goals is tied for fourth in the nation for most goals scored by a freshman on opening weekend.
• The Panthers had eight players score a goal against Maryland on Saturday.
• Davis Sampere's seven ground balls against UMD ranked 11th in the nation in ground balls on opening weekend. Sampere led HPU and the SOCON in groundballs a season ago with 129.
• HPU was selected to finish second in the SOCON preseason poll and received two first place votes.
• Coach Jon Torpey is entering his eighth season as the head coach of High Point. He and the program as a whole enter the weekend with an overall record of 54-54.
• The Panthers hope to carry the home success from last season into 2020 as High Point was 7-2 at Vert Stadium in 2019.
• High Point's roster features players from 21 states and provinces which is tied for second for most states and provinces represented in Division I lacrosse. This list includes: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Vermont. 

Across the Bench

• Duke comes to vert stadium after dropping its season opener to Air Force in Durham. The Blue Devils are coming off of a final four appearance in 2019 where the lost in double overtime to the eventual national champion Virginia.
• Last time out the Blue Devils lost to fellow SOCON team Air Force 14-13. Joey Manown had three goals and two assists combining for a team high five points. Cameron Badour added three goals as well.
• Coach John Danowski enters his 14th season with Duke, Danowski has won three national championships as the head coach of the Blue Devils.
• JT Giles-Harris received a lot of media attention and accolades leading into this season, he was named to the USILA Preseason All American First team defense. Nolting is on the Attack on that same first team. Harris is also the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Week.

Up Next: High Point will stay home next Saturday (Feb. 15) to host Drexel at noon.