High Point punched 2021’s first ticket to the men’s DI NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers beat top-seeded Richmond, 11-7, to win the SoCon Tournament Championship and earn the league’s AQ. It is High Point’s first SoCon championship since 2015.
Kevin Rogers, the transfer from Lynchburg and IL’s 2020 DIII Player of the Year, had four goals and an assist, pacing the Panthers. Davis Sampere won 17-of-21 face-offs.
High Point opened up big, scoring the first four goals and going up as much as 7-1 early. But like the SoCon Semifinal matchup against Jacksonville, their opponent wasn’t going away easily.
We were treated to a smorgasbord of television games, rivalry games and contests that had league-standing significance.
The ACC Thursday Night Thriller remains undefeated. Navy earned the Star in front of 5,000 fans in Annapolis. UMBC keeps winning overtime games. Otto bounced back in Charlottesville. The Drexel Dragons and Saint Joe’s Hawks have momentum in late April.
For some, this week is the last of the regular season. For others it s the chance to play for a conference automatic qualifier where every game has Game 7’ intensity and ramifications. Right now, there are roughly 45 teams in the hunt for the NCAA Tournament.
Inside Lacrosse Photo Jaclyn Borowski)
For nearly 57 minutes, the Richmond Spiders kept Kevin Lindley in check. Unfortunately, he exploded in the last three-plus, scoring two goals in regulation and the OT-winner as the Loyola Greyhounds escaped from Robins Stadium with an 8-7 victory.
3:18, 4Q | Richmond 7, @LoyolaHounds 6.
Olmstead creates on the left side and feeds Lindley on the right doorstep for a Loyola goal. ESPN+
1:06, 4Q | @LoyolaHounds 7, Richmond 7.
Greyhounds tie it up! Shafer picks up a ground ball and throws over the top to Higgins who carries it foward and throws to Lindley for a goal.
Savio wins the FO, and Loyola calls timeout.