GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Panthers are rolling right now.
Every facet was clicking Saturday as the High Point University women's lacrosse team completed its road trip victorious with a pivotal 13-10 win over Furman University to secure a spot in the Big South Tournament with one game remaining.
It marks HPU's sixth straight win to improve the Panthers to 4-1 over the Paladins.
SITE: Paladin Stadium
SCORE: High Point 13, Furman 10
RECORDS: High Point (10-5, 6-1), Furman (7-9, 5-2)
Head Coach Lyndsey Boswell: "I like the way we started the game executing very well on the draw and offense. Furman is a good team. They didn't back down and I like the way that our team matched their intensity in the second half. Jordi and company really took advantage there and gave us a lot of possession time. Both goalies are playing their part very well right now. Ava came up in the second half with some big saves after Joy held down the first-half lead. I'm really proud of the way that those two are working together. I'm excited to go home next week and play Longwood, finishing regular season play on our home turf."
The Panthers dominated the draw circle, winning 19 to Furman's eight as
Jordan Miles won a career-high 13. The junior attacker won the first of the game and it was onto the races from there.
HPU posted four first-quarter goals thanks to a pair from
Shannon Smith and one each from Miles and
Mandy Brockamp. Smith scored her third in the second quarter to secure the hat trick, while
Esprit Cha netted a pair to keep the lead as Furman scored three straight to end the half and make a push at the lead 7-4.
Through the second half, the Panthers and Paladins swapped two goals each every time there was a score. Furman attempted to make its scoring streak three goals in the third quarter, which would've gotten the Paladins within three goals; however, like time and time again, the HPU defense stepped up.
Ava Welsh stopped a fast-break save, and then
Allie Connally sniped in her second goal to take the momentum back.
Pia Cavallaro was huge in the midfield as she caused three turnovers and had three ground balls, while Brockamp also had three caused turnovers. Connally had two assists and Miles had two goals.
Cha scored four goals as Smith had three scores to lead the Panthers in the goal column, while Miles had two goals and Connally had two assists. Welsh had three saves and
Joy Coffey had two, including limiting Furman to one first-quarter goal for her ninth win this season.
Up Next: The Panthers are back home for their regular-season finale against Longwood on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
