STATESBORO, Ga. – The High Point University men's lacrosse team took a trip down south to Statesboro, Georgia, for a neutral site game with Jacksonville University on Saturday afternoon. After 60 minutes of a battle at the South Georgia Showdown, the Panthers fell 18-7.

"Hats off to Jacksonville… They deserved to beat us in a big way today," Head Coach John Crawley stated. "They played harder than we did, and dominated the middle of the field. There is a glaring issue in our clearing game right now that we as a coaching staff need to address. So we'll get back to work to clean things up."
 

Site: Georgia Southern University's Allen E. Paulson Stadium

Score: High Point 7, Jacksonville 18

Records: High Point (1-4), Jacksonville (2-3)
 

After going down 2-0 in the first five minutes, Justin Wixted put the Panthers on the board with an unassisted goal at the 9:53 mark. The Dolphins answered with back-to-back goals, but redshirt senior LSM Brice Richins drilled one into the back of the net — with an assist from James Westbrooks — for his first career goal to bring the Panthers within one. Ryan Hynes finished out the first quarter with a goal at the 3:46 mark. HPU trailed 3-4 at the end of the first.
 

In the second quarter, Jacksonville scored first, but High Point quickly responded with two goals from Hynes and freshman Luke Fenderson. The Panthers were awarded the man-up opportunity, and Wixted took advantage with an assist from Carson Robins. The Dolphins finished out the half with three goals to make it 9-6 going into halftime.  
  

Jacksonville opened the third quarter with a quick goal, going up 10-6, and then Owen Bunten found the back of the net with an assist from Fenderson. The Panthers were scoreless the rest of the way as the Dolphins took the momentum.
 

The Panthers won 15 face-offs to Jacksonville's 14 as Luca Accardo led the Panthers with 13. HPU took 26 shots to the Dolphins' 38.
 

UP NEXT: High Point will host No. 14 University of Virginia at Vert Stadium on March 3 at 5:00 pm.