DURHAM, N.C. — The High Point University women's lacrosse team opened the 2025 season with a bout at No. 25 Duke University, ultimately falling 17-6 on Sunday afternoon.
SITE: Koskinen Stadium
SCORE: High Point 6, #25 Duke 17
RECORDS: High Point (0-1), Duke (2-0)
Head Coach Lyndsey Boswell: "I'm really proud of the fight we got from our team today. We followed the game plan in the first half, but we lacked execution in the second half. With big momentum plays by Duke coming out of halftime, we just couldn't get our feet back under us. We learned a lot from the game today, and I'm really excited to take that into our game next weekend with Campbell."
The Panthers came out red-hot, ripping off a 3-0 run to start the scoring.
Shannon Smith was responsible for the first goal, while
Allie Connally scored the second and
Bella Germani netted her first in Purple & White on a woman-up opportunity. Smith assisted Germani's goal for the team's first assist.
The Blue Devils responded to the run with a goal, while
Esprit Cha scored her first of the year with a high-arcing shot — via Germani's first collegiate assist — to take the 4-1 lead.
Duke scored three goals to knot the score at 3-all before Connally scored her second on a woman-up, free-position shot. The Blue Devils responded with another goal before half to make it 5-all.
Cha opened scoring in the second half to take the lead again, but Duke took it back for good on a 12-0 run.
Cha and Connally led the Panthers with two goals apiece.
Tatum Mehring caused a career-high three turnovers, while
Julia Dustin had her first multi-caused turnover outing.
Lily Trout won five draw controls in her collegiate debut and
Sydney Martin had two ground balls. In her first career start in goal,
Ava Welsh scooped two ground balls and had three saves.
Up Next: The Panthers head to Buies Creek to face Campbell University on Saturday, February 15 at 1 p.m.
#GoHPU
