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.
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Site: Georgia Southern University’s Allen E. Paulson Stadium
Score: High Point 7, Jacksonville 18
Records: High Point (1-4), Jacksonville (2-3)
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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.
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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. Â
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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.
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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.
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UP NEXT: High Point will host No. 14 University of Virginia at Vert Stadium on March 3 at 5:00 pm.Â
#GoHPU x #A10MLAX