• Sophomore Tim Troutner Jr. racked up 17 saves to record 14 or more stops for the fourth time already this season.
• Senior Sean Harrison posted a career-high four points dishing out three assists while also scoring a goal.
• Senior Michael LeClair netted a hat trick and added an assist to finish with four points.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The High Point University men’s lacrosse team went on the road to frigid Rhode Island and fell 17-8 to Providence on Saturday afternoon.
The Friars (4-2) controlled possession and pace earning a 48-27 edge in shots over the Panthers (2-5). Due to that advantage, sophomore Tim Troutner Jr. faced 34 shots on goal while stopping 17 shots in the cage.
“This upcoming week is going to give us a great chance to learn and grow,” head coach Jon Torpey said. “We are looking forward to finding some answers.”
Offensively, seniors Sean Harrison (1g, 3a) and Michael LeClair (3g, 1a) each racked up four points apiece while junior Jason Ashwood tallied two (1g, 1a).
Meanwhile, freshman Dalton Sulver scored his first collegiate goal and freshman Mitchel Snyder chipped in with his third goal of the year.
On the defensive end, junior Terrell Sands was credited with three ground balls and also scored his second career goal in transition. Similarly, sophomore Griff Caligiuri added three ground balls and senior Tanner Landstra caused two turnovers on the day.
In the game, Providence posted a 21-8 edge at the face-off ‘X’ and a 35-21 margin on the ground. Junior Chris Young won six of his 15 face-offs and also caused a Friar turnover.
In the early going, the Friars leaped out to a 2-0 lead with 9:39 left in the first. Young, though, won the ensuing face-off allowing Sulver to get loose in transition and get the Panthers on the board eight seconds later.
Harrison, then, added the equalizer off an assist from Ashwood to make it 2-all with 6:32 left in the frame. However, Providence netted a 4-0 run before Harrison returned the favor assisting on Ashwood’s goal at the 3:20 mark of the second to make it 6-3.
But once again, the Friars responded quickly adding two goals in the final three minutes to take an 8-3 lead into the half.
After the break, Providence continued to control possession and converted those opportunities into a 5-0 spurt before LeClair scored with 3:27 left in the third.
The Friars answered with a goal of their own late in the third before Snyder and Sands scored to cut the deficit to eight, 14-6, with 9:48 to play. From there, LeClair added two more goals and Providence added three to provide the 17-8 final score.
The Panthers will be back on the road on Friday, March 17 to open Southern Conference play at VMI with a 7 p.m. opening face-off.