HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University women's lacrosse team had a thrilling double-overtime, 13-12, win over Winthrop University Wednesday night to begin Big South Conference play victorious. Freshman attacker
Shannon Smith scored the golden goal with just under two minutes left in the second OT period.
"It felt amazing knowing I could help my team with the win and us all working together to get it — just feels amazing," Smith said. "I think we definitely go into our next game [versus Mercer] confidently and knowing our potential with this momentum."
Site: Vert Stadium
Score: High Point 13, Winthrop 12
Records: High Point (2-6, 1-0 Big South), Winthrop (3-5, 0-1 Big South)
Head Coach Lyndsey Boswell: "I'm so proud of the fight and resilience this team showed late in the game when nothing seemed to be going our way. Taylor [Suplee] made huge stops for us — she's amazing. Our middies worked tirelessly for answers on the circle, and our attackers stepped up in big time scoring plays.
"We have yet to put 60 minutes together, but we start this new phase of our season with a lot of lessons learned. I'm happy for this group to be 1-0."
Pia Cavallaro tallied her fourth and fifth goals of the season in the opening 15 minutes to put the Panthers on the board. Cavallaro was accompanied by Loescher, who assisted her second goal, and then scored a goal of her own.
Going into the second quarter, HPU trailed by one goal, but the freshman Smith quickly responded to the deficit for her first.
It was all gas and no brakes for the Panthers for the rest of the second quarter. After Smith's goal, Miles, Loescher, and Rosselli led High Point on a five-goal run to go into the half up four goals. High Point did not allow a single goal in the second quarter of play as Suplee stood on her head making seven saves.
Jenna Kraft and
Caitlyn Baehr held down the fort on the defensive end to start the third quarter. Both defenders caused turnovers to regain possession for the Panthers.
Emma Nowakowski got on the scoring sheet off Loescher's second assist of the night, followed by another Cavallaro goal. Nearing the end of the third,
Reese Dowgiallo quick-sticked her first career goal into the back of the net to extend the lead to six.
The fourth quarter mimicked the Panthers' second quarter as the Eagles went on a 6-0 run to send the game into sudden-death extra time.
Suplee was phenomenal to begin overtime, making two huge saves on free-position shots to send the game into a second overtime.
"I am just really happy I could get my team this win," Suplee said. "They were pretty tough saves, but I am lucky my defense got in there quickly to make the stop."
With just under two minutes left in the second period of extra time, freshman attacker
Shannon Smith converted off a pass from Loescher to secure the win and erupt the crowd.
Mena Loescher was doing
Mena Loescher things, leading the team with six points off three goals and three assists. Cavallaro contributed her first hat-trick of the season and added two assists in the win. Smith and Nowakowski both netted two goals, while Rosselli, Miles, and Dowgiallo who each had one.
UP NEXT: The Panthers travel to Macon, Georgia on Saturday, April 1 to take on the Mercer Bears, beginning at 2 p.m.
#GoHPU
