HIGH POINT, N.C. — Believe.
 
It's a word that has surrounded the High Point University women's lacrosse team as the Panthers gear up for the 2024 season, which begins when No. 24-ranked Duke University comes to town on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.
 
The belief embodied within the elected captains — Sami Macdonald, Kay Rosselli, and Mandy Brockamp — is what the trio has leaned on to empower the program, knowing it is the core of what is going to propel HPU back to hoisting trophies.
 
"It's an honor to know that my teammates and coaches believe in me to lead this team," Macdonald said. "Belief is the foundation of our program. When we believe in ourselves, our preparation, our values, and most importantly each other, High Point women's lacrosse is capable of amazing things. We BELIEVE we are a championship team, and I am so excited for us to showcase all of the hard work that has been put in since the summer."
 
Macdonald joined Rosselli and Brockamp as a captain after the calendar year flipped and spring practice began in early January.
 
It was apparent to players and coaches that these three — powered by their true selves and veteran leadership — were the ones called to lead the Panthers.
 
"I love what these three bring to the table individually as well as a trio," HPU Women's Lacrosse Head Coach Lyndsey Boswell said. "Kay and Mandy did a great job leading the team this fall, and Sami was added to accentuate what's already being done. Their passion, drive, and accountability is what sets them apart and also encourages others to follow.
 
"We have a lot of newcomers and these captains, along with our other leaders, are doing a great job setting an example for those younger players. I'm really excited to see what our entire leadership team can accomplish together this season."
 
The goal these captains are trying to lead and achieve isn't a secret: win championships.
 
Since Boswell started the HPU women's lacrosse program in 2009, the standard has been high as the Panthers had back-to-back 15-win seasons with the inaugural year being in 2010. The winning mentality only shifted into the Big South Conference when the league launched the sport in 2013.
 
In the first season, the Panthers won a championship and secured their first NCAA Tournament berth. HPU has left its mark in the Big South as the Panthers have a league-leading 12 titles, including an impeccable run from 2017-2021 where the Panthers won eight straight championships.
 
The 2017 season marked not only the program's first NCAA Tournament win but also the first in the institution's DI history. In all, HPU has six NCAA Tournament appearances with the last being in 2021 when Macdonald and Rosselli were freshmen.
 
"It's an incredible honor to represent this team as captain," Rosselli said. "I'm excited to help this team get back to championship form. This season, we've set high standards and pushed each other to new levels of commitment. We as a team are fully bought in to the process of winning a championship and most importantly, we believe that we can. I am so excited for this season to see all our sacrifices and hard work pay off."
 
In 2022, the Panthers won their ninth straight championship, winning the regular season like they had every season since 2017. While HPU secured the regular-season title, the Panthers were unable to win the tournament as Mercer University did in 2022 and 2023.

The current captain trio has felt the surreal feeling of winning a championship as well as falling short of the ultimate goal. It's why being selected as captains and helping the program get back to its foundation means more than words could say. 

It speaks volumes of who they are as women and the belief each one has in HPU women's lacrosse. It proves the belief the program has in them to lead the Panthers in pursuit of more championship success.

Now, it's time to stand on that belief and let the preparation and work on the field do the talking.
 
"For me, being selected as captain means my teammates have faith and trust in me," Brockamp said. "My authenticity has gotten me to this point, so I strive to keep this as a core value in my leadership."
  
"This year has been all about bringing the championship back home where it belongs at High Point. We've focused all fall on redefining who we are as a program, and I know we are about to prove so much to the lacrosse world. We've brought the spark back to High Point women's lacrosse and this season will be one for the books."