CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The 2026 season is quickly approaching and the High Point University women's lacrosse team, ranked second in the preseason poll, had five Panthers recognized as Big South Conference Preseason All-Conference players as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon. High Point had the most players recognized of all conference schools. 

Attack - #11 Shannon Smith (Sr.)

Smith finished second on the team with 55 goals and tied for third in total points (72) last season. She was named Big South Second Team All-Conference and was voted to the Big South All-Tournament team. Smith set career highs in every statistical category in her junior campaign. The senior captain put up a career-high six goals against Winthrop. She added another assist in the same game, setting her career high in points at seven. Smith has started 35 games over the past two seasons.

Midfield - #17 Bella Germani (Sr.)

After transferring from Stony Brook, Germani had a breakout 2025. She totaled 36 goals and shot 52 percent during the season. Germani was named to the Big South First Team All-Conference and All-Tournament teams. She set a career-high five goals against Longwood, which she also set her career-high in points at five. Germani set single-game career highs in shots, shots on goal, goals, assists, points, caused turnovers, ground balls and draw controls. The senior midfielder started 17 of 18 games. Germani is also the reigning Big South Newcomer of the Year. 

Defense - #23 Julia Dustin (Jr.)

Dustin is coming off of a 2025 campaign in which she was named Big South First Team All-Conference for the first time in her career. She ranked first on the team in caused turnovers (33) and fourth in ground balls (29). Dustin caused a career-high three turnovers in four different games. She has started every game but one in her career.

Defense - #5 Haley Urban (R-So.)

Urban had an impressive 2025 after transferring from South Florida and becoming a Big South Second Team All-Conference defender as a redshirt freshman. She started all but one game and recovered a career-high four ground balls against Wofford. She recovered three or more ground balls in seven different games in her debut season in the Purple & White. Urban caused the second most turnovers on the team (18) and ground balls (32) in 17 games.

Goalkeeper - #16 Ava Welsh (Jr.)

The 2025 Big South First Team All-Conference goalkeeper recorded 144 total saves last season, playing a total of 900 minutes and facing 466 shots. Welsh saved 43 percent of the shots she faced, recovered a team-high 43 ground balls and caused another five turnovers. She set her career high with 18 saves against Navy and notched her 200th career save against Radford.  Welsh started every game and is the only goalkeeper named to the preseason all-conference team.
 

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

ATT – Caroline Glus, Mercer

ATT – Lily Toole, Furman

ATT – Shannon Smith, High Point

MF - Ansley Walters, Mercer

MF – Bella Germani, High Point

MF – Olivia Graebner, Wofford

D – Barrett Rowe, Wofford

D – Julia Dustin, High Point

D – Avery West, Presbyterian

GK - Ava Welsh, High Point

AL – Skylar Hilmer, D, Furman

AL – Haley Urban, D, High Point
 

2026 WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL

*Note: points are based on a weighted system, with first-place votes receiving 9 points, followed by 8 points for second-place, and so on. 

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