HIGH POINT, N.C. — The 2025 High Point University women's lacrosse season is upon us.
A full offseason of preparation has led up to when the first draw is taken versus No. 25 Duke University on Sunday inside Koskinen Stadium at 1 p.m.
The anticipation is growing to build on the program's core values — grit, discipline, humility, and love — and make it back to the Big South Conference championship. Not only to make it there for the 10th time but to hoist the trophy for the seventh time and first since 2021.
"They've been on a mission since last May," HPU Head Coach
Lyndsey Boswell said. "I love this team and the culture they have created. They believe in themselves and each other. We are having a lot of fun striving for excellence and putting our best foot forward each time we are together. I'm looking forward to seeing their work unfold over the next few weeks and months."
Boswell is at the forefront of the program's mission to win championships, heading into her 15th season strong, healthy and vying for the team's 13th Big South Conference trophy and seventh NCAA Tournament appearance.
The team's first and only head coach is surrounded by a strong-willed coaching staff with two familiar faces in
Hannah Wszalek and
Lauren DiPuorto, who are back for their second seasons, as well as first-year coach
Taylor Moncman.
"I remain grateful for all the support that was given to our program last year through my health challenges," Boswell said. "I love this University and I'm happy to be back in the locker room with a clear mind and a joyful heart. This program means the world to me, and I'm thankful to everyone that stood by me and my team this past year."
In the pursuit to top last year's 12-6 overall record and Big South runner-up finish, the 2025 Panthers are made up of 21 returners, 10 freshmen and six transfers. It's a group Boswell and her staff are excited to see the potential unfold and build on offseason work.
The six-woman transfer class is the largest group the Panthers have brought in since the inception of the program. High Point signed three players from Stony Brook University in
Bella Germani,
Jaidyn Donley and
Eva Thorn, while bringing in
Kate Prentice (Xavier),
Haley Urban (South Florida) and
Ella McKay (Elon).
"The transfer portal was helpful this summer as we had a few players leave and graduate," Boswell said. "We looked for players that fit our style as well as players that could challenge our current roster. We are happy with the players that joined us from other programs. Each of them brings something unique, and we feel we've provided all of them a positive experience so far. I believe they will all contribute to our success in some way this spring. Bella, Kate and Jaidyn give us some depth and dimension to our midfield unit, so I'm looking forward to putting that puzzle together."
The 10-woman true freshman class is full of rookies who are ready to contribute when their number is called. Boswell raved about this core group and how they are detail focused, work hard for their teammates and take feedback to get better.
She pointed out a few who have stood out so far:
"The freshmen are a fun, hardworking group," Boswell said. "They came in with fight, a high level of fitness, and a willingness to work hard for their teammates.
Lily Trout has really been a huge impact in the midfield for us. She's a quiet competitor that follows directions and pays close attention to how to help her teammates.
Casey Fisher is fast, and also does what is asked of her — she will definitely help us right away.
Haley Urban, a transfer redshirt freshman, is vying for time on the defensive end, and I love what she's doing for our unit so far."
The Panthers have a large chunk of returners in each class that are back to make an impact.
Esprit Cha enters her senior year after posting a career junior season with 50 goals, 66 points, 33 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers. Also back in the Purple & White is
Allie Connally, who had a breakout junior campaign with career highs in every statistic alike Cha: 33 goals, 46 points and 31 draw controls.
Junior duo
Shannon Smith (27 goals, 12 assists) and
Reese Dowgiallo (19 goals, 17 assists) join Cha and Connally as returning attackers with opportunities to create a special offensive unit.
Mandy Brockamp is the other 20-goal scorer back and key two-way midfielder as she looks to put the transfer and freshmen middies under her wing.
"On the attacking end, I'm really proud of Reese and Shannon as juniors, stepping up and supporting Allie and Esprit as seniors," Boswell said. "That is a tight knit and productive unit that is versatile and dynamic. It's been fun to watch them fill some gaps and take their individual games to the next level."
The Panthers have two starters back on defense in junior
Sydney Martin and sophomore
Julia Dustin as both were lineup locks a year ago. Martin posted career highs with 26 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers while Dustin had 17 ground balls and two caused turnovers. Veteran
Tatum Mehring, who had nine ground balls and five caused turnovers, returns with opportunities to build on a healthy redshirt sophomore campaign.
In goal, the Panthers have two goalies back in
Joy Coffey and
Ava Welsh. The duo split time all of last year as they look to feed off each other and protect the cage.
"Defensively, I love hearing from Julia and seeing Sydney share experiences with newcomers and younger players," Boswell said. "Mandy is our glue on that end of the field; she's really shining bring in pre-season, and I love what she's teaching while she's out there. We are lucky to have two returning goalies that have experience and have shown developments in the past six months as well."
Between the returners, transfers and freshmen, the Panthers believe they are primed for success in non-conference and conference play. It's a shared belief as the team has prepared since last May and is invested to get back to championship-winning ways.
Together, the 2025 Panthers are on a mission.
"We are a team; the mentality is team, and there will not be one individual that is going to put this team back on the map and in the rankings," Boswell said. "That is what makes this group so special. They put each other first, they work hard for the person next to them, and what they bring to the table is their love and respect for each other. We are focusing on getting better each day, not on results and outcomes. We put grit, discipline, humility and love into each training session, and it's been really great watching these girls elevate their standards and hold themselves and others accountable to elite levels on and off the field."
#GoHPU
