Clinton, S.C. — Big South Conference play officially opened up for the High Point University women's lacrosse team as the Panthers shined in the 20-7 victory over Presbyterian College Wednesday night. It was HPU's fourth straight win and first in conference.
 
The Panthers had five players score three or more goals in the 20-goal outing. Of those, HPU was led by Shannon Smith and Esprit Cha, who both had four goals and one assist apiece. Tatum Goettelmann made her first career start and totaled six points on three goals and three assists. Kate Prentice netted her first HPU hat trick, while Allie Connally had yet another strong performance with three goals, three assists, and 10 draw controls.
 
Site: Bailey Memorial Stadium
Score: High Point 20, Presbyterian 7
Records: High Point (5-4,1-0), Presbyterian (3-7, 0-1)
 
Head Coach Lyndsey Boswell: "We're happy to be on the road this week with Presbyterian and to get this first conference win. I thought the girls did a great job of sticking together, and you know it was a total team performance. I am really proud of them. We scored in a lot of different ways today. We had a lot of players step up and score goals. The number of hat tricks that came out of our starting lineup and also the bench, it says something about the depth we have on offense."
 
Smith started the game with a very hot stick, finding the back of the net three consecutive times. She secured a hat trick early and gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead less than eight minutes in. Goettelmann assisted on Smith's third goal.
 
"I think starting Big South play on top was really important for us," Smith said. "Coming out here and just crushing this game. We needed this to go into the rest of the season. I think this is going to give us momentum for our next few games."
 
Presbyterian was able to find itself on the scoreboard, but Cha followed it up with two goals herself, the second of which was once again assisted by Goettelmann. The Panthers led 5-1, with 4:07 remaining in the first quarter. 
 
The Panthers opened up the second quarter rolling on offense as Cha became the second Panther with a hat trick, bringing the score to 6-1. Goettelmann assisted on her third first-half goal.
 
After the Blue Hose netted back-to-back goals — with 8:16 remaining in the first half —Connally added to the scoring department with her 18th goal of the season.
 
Goettelmann continued her dominant offensive performance with a goal of her own as Smith assisted.
 
"I was nervous at first, but my preparation and the extra work I have been putting in," Goettelmann said of her first start, "especially with the attack group, Shannon, Reese, Allie and Esprit, they make me feel comfortable and they helped me prepare for today."
 
Senior Mandy Brockamp then went low to give the Panthers a six-goal lead. Prentice secured her first goal of the game, which Cha assisted. Bella Germani then scored her 13th goal of the season. Connally found Cha for her fourth of the game, and Goettelmann for her second, giving the Panthers a 13-3 lead after a seven-goal run.
 
Presbyterian scored to stop the running clock until freshman Lily Trout scored the Panthers' 14th goal of the first half, and ninth of the second quarter. High Point led by 10 heading into halftime.
 
The Panthers opened up the second half just just as strong as Connally scored twice. Smith continued to shine on offense with her fourth goal to give the Panthers a 17-5 lead. Connally once again assisted on the score.
 
Prentice then scored back-to-back goals to give the Panthers a 14-goal lead, with 13:39 remaining, as the second goal was assisted by Brockamp. Goettelmann then got her hat trick to land the Panthers at the 20-goal mark.
 
Presbyterian scored two more in the fourth quarter, but High Point remained firm on all facets of the game to win.
 
Sophomore goalie Ava Welsh also shined, saving 56 percent with nine saves and two ground balls. Welsh helped force Presbyterian to go 0-7 on free position shots.
 
Up Next: The Panthers will look to extend their four-game win streak against the Winthrop University Eagles on Senior Day Saturday, March 29, at 3 p.m.