A new day…

Oh my, so much to say…

The 2012 National Lacrosse Conference awards banquet on Saturday night was a time to reflect on the season and to honor those who put in the hard work and made the big plays.  It soon became apparent that hard work and dedication to high standards is something this entire team does – not just a few individuals. We must start at the beginning – first and foremost we are NCAA Division 1 ‘student athletes’ – so the first shout out goes to Mackenzie Carroll, Jasmine Jordan, Alec Perry and Cissy Woodyard for being named to the NLC Academic All-Conference Team. These four young women are getting it done in the classroom and on the field and we could not be more proud of them.

Speaking of getting it done, the next shout out goes (again) to Mackenzie Carroll, the 2012 National Lacrosse Conference Co-Player of The Year as well as the 2012 NLC Attacker of the Year.  Mac brings it all – every day.  It’s nice to see that rewarded and no one is more deserving.  Another young woman who brings it every day is Christie Dougherty.  She was named the NLC Midfielder of the Year for 2012.  Doc works as hard as anyone on the field and has stepped up time and time again – when we needed her most.  And what about defense?  Well, our own Anna Wallingford was named the NLC Goalie of the Year for 2012 – that’s what!  Anna has passion for the game like no other and her hard work and dedication to constantly raising her level of play has made all the difference this year. Congratulations to all three of these amazing young women for these individual achievements.

Next are the players named to the NLC First Team All-Conference. The first team includes Mackenzie Carroll, Anna Wallingford, Christie Dougherty, Heather Ziccarelli and Jasmine Jordan. The NLC Second Team All-Conference included last year’s Player of the Year, Grace Gaeng and Sara Kuhlman. Congratulations to all of our All-Conference players. You rock!

OK, so now we get to the bitter part… yes, we lost the championship game.  Yes, it hurts… badly… but we win with class and I was so proud to see that this team also knows how to lose with class.  There is a fine line between savoring a victory and rubbing it in.  Was that line crossed yesterday?  It doesn’t matter really.  The bottom line is on that day, Jacksonville was the better team.  They deserved the win and so to the victor go the spoils.  We will think about what we could have done differently or about what might have been but the reality is today is another day and a single game or final score does not diminish in any way the accomplishments of this team – it’s coaches or players.

There is a reason we went undefeated in the conference regular season.  There is a reason we placed seven players on all-conference teams.  There is a reason our players include offensive and defensive conference players of the year and there is a reason why a loss like this hurts so much – it’s because this team does not just see winning as the goal.  Winning is what we do – on the field and off the field in everything we do – it is not merely a destination.  Our standards are high and when we fall short, it hurts – but we are a team.  We work together and play together.  We win together and we lose together… and we do so with class because we represent each other and our university.  This we do proudly.

So here’s to another great season. The accomplishments of our individual players are great but this team’s parts – impressive as they may be – make up an even more impressive women’s lacrosse program – and this program is just getting warmed up.  Congratulations to each and every member of the HPU Athletics family on a great spring semester.  Travel safely and enjoy your summer.  The fall season is right around the corner…

As One Season Ends, Another Begins

The girls are wrapping up their final exams and final lacrosse practices before the NLC Tournament this weekend.  The weather is warming up again and the team is playing great lacrosse.  Senior Night was a special night for the entire #hpuwlax family as it marked not only a win against NLC rival Davidson, but also the first time the team has finished the regular season undefeated in conference play.  When these girls set the standard, the standard is high.

This time of year is bittersweet.  As the regular season comes to a close we know that we have played our last home games with Heather and Alexis and they will soon be moving on to bigger and more exciting challenges.  At the same time, they haven’t left just yet and there are a few more things we have yet to take care of – like defending our NLC Conference Championship! – so we are eager to enter the post-season knowing that we are limited only by ourselves in what we can achieve.

So we pause to say thank you to our awesome seniors and to make sure those exams are all finished up, then we will take a deep breath and get back to work doing our part to see that post-season winning continues to be #hpuwlax tradition.

We look to defend our title this weekend in the National Lacrosse Conference Tournament at Richardson Stadium in Davidson, N.C.  We will open the tournament against No. 8 Howard on Friday at 11:30 a.m. so join us in Davidson this weekend as we make history… again.

Player’s Perspective – Alexis

My time spent at High Point has been a self- fulfilling journey.  I have accomplished so much with my academics and sports career.  President Dr. Nido Qubein has given me an opportunity to experience an ideal school environment.  High Point offers countless opportunities to make every individual a more distinguished successful person.  This school has helped lead me to my future goals in becoming a professional.  I have been fortunate to learn from the greatest professors I have ever encountered.  My biggest influence here is my professor and advisor.  Professor Andrea Wheless never quit guiding me to develop and enhance my artistic abilities.  She is one person I can honestly thank for bringing out my talents and pushing me to do the most with my life.  Thanks to her help I can go to graduate school and attend the master’s program at the University of Louisville to achieve my dreams in becoming an Art Therapist.

I have worked so hard in my studies and continue to take that diligence with me throughout life.  Aside from my academics, athletically I have been challenged to do and overcome mental and physical struggles.  My coaches, Lyndsey Boswell, Whitney Michele and Staci Passafiume, have motivated and inspired me to push through anything life has to offer me on and off the field.  Coach Boswell has been a huge part in my life.  After playing for her for five years, I have seen what true dedication is.  Her time and energy will never be forgotten as I have seen firsthand of how she has transformed one lacrosse program and start an even more incredible one at High Point.  I can take away the full understanding of what it means to work hard, be a team, and the greatest feeling of winning a championship.  Even though at times I may have thought otherwise, I couldn’t have imagined my life without Lacrosse.  Being an athlete here is a part that defines the person I am and the person I aspire to be.  I am a stronger and better person because of my teammates and coaches.  I know my teammates are the hardest working bunch of girls I have ever met.  Their passion and heart has helped me get through each and every day.  My teammates are like my sisters.  I can graduate knowing I have the greatest family.

- Senior, Alexis Goldman, #22

Player’s Perspective – Heather

My time here are HPU has been short, but very sweet.  I fell in love with High Point the first time I came to visit.  It’s hard not to with such a beautiful campus and such friendly people around you all the time.  I couldn’t imagine my time here without being a part of the women’s lacrosse team though.  Over the past two years, I’ve had the chance to develop relationships with some amazing girls.  Being apart of the first women’s lacrosse team at HPU is something that is very special to me.  I’m honored to have been apart of such a great program and that I had the privilege of setting the tone for the future of women’s lacrosse here by contributing to a conference championship as a first year program. I will always cherish the memories and the friendships I’ve made at High Point University as I pursue new dreams and move on to the next stage of my life!

- Senior, Heather Ziccarelli, #21

Panthers Eager for First Elite Win

The team will make the short drive over to Durham tomorrow night to battle the 6th ranked Blue Devils of Duke (9-5) at Koskinen Stadium.  Game time is 7:00 pm and the weather forecast is perfect so bring the kids and join us for some great lacrosse!

The Panthers (8-2) have been working hard in practice lately and it is starting to pay dividends.  Despite a flurry of injuries, the girls are playing well as a team now and there has been no shortage of individuals to step up and make big plays.  The Jacksonville game was a solid team win and there were several great individual performances in the Presbyterian game – Kelsy Mugele stepped in and killed it scoring two goals and dishing out three assists.  Megan Weisman had three caused turnovers, four ground balls and two draw controls and, before it was over, ten different players would score at least one goal.

Tomorrow will be a reality check for sure – but a reality check for who might not be as clear…  Many think that High Point’s lacrosse program just isn’t ready to compete with the cream of the ACC programs yet.  After all, this is only the second season of the program’s existence.  Last year the Panthers played their first game ever and Duke was in the final four competing for a national championship.  There are a few young women, however, that think the lacrosse landscape is changing here in North Carolina and they intend to make their case tomorrow night.  It’s going to be great!

Go Panthers!

Panthers Look to Extend Win Streak

hpuwlax is back in action this Saturday hosting the Blue Hose of Presbyterian at Vert Stadium on the beautiful HPU Campus. Game time is 1:00 pm and admission is free. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous so come out and take in some great lacrosse!

The Blue Hose (1-10) come into Vert for the first time looking to end an eight game skid – the most recent being a 19-5 loss at #15 Vanderbilt this week.

The Panthers (7-2) have won four straight and are coming off an emotional 18-12 win Last Friday night at Vert where they hosted the Dolphins from Jacksonville. The NLC’s top two teams were knotted at 5 at the half but HPU owned the second half as their defense quickly clamped down and the offense loosened up. Heather Ziccarelli and Alec Perry both went off for 5 goals a piece and Anna Wallingford had seven saves in what was billed as a rematch of the (nail biter) 2011 NLC Tournament Championship game.

The girls appear to be coming together at just the right time. The pieces have been there all year but Friday night the team played together like they have only done briefly this year – and it seemed to be infectious. The HPU team that finished that game seemed to be a much stronger team than the one that started it. I can’t wait for Saturday…

Only one more sleep… Go Panthers!

Panthers Face Dolphins Friday in Championship Rematch

The girls will be back in action at Vert Stadium this Friday night at 7:00 pm to host the Dolphins from Jacksonville.  The game will be a rematch of the NLC Championship from last season and promises to be a game filled with emotion and intensity.

The Panthers (6-2) are riding a three game winning streak and most recently defeated a solid Oregon team on Sunday, 13-10.  The offense started strong and the defense stepped up to hold off a late rally by the Ducks.  Goalkeeper Anna Wallingford had seven saves in the game and was named the NLC Defensive player of the week for the second time this season.

The Dolphins (7-2) are coming off a 21-2 thrashing of Fresno on Tuesday where thirteen players scored and junior Rachel Hannon set a school record with 10 draw controls.

Both teams are eager to prove they are the team to beat in the NLC this season.  If you catch a single game this year, it should be this one.  Come on out and support the girls as they take the field in what will be a great game!

Go Panthers!