ROCK HILL, SC – Coming off its first-ever conference tournament victory, the Winthrop women's lacrosse team now prepares for a 4 p.m. contest Friday against the top-seeded High Point Panthers in the Big South semi-finals.
The game will be played on the campus of High Point who earned the right to host the semi-finals and championship after winning the regular season.
Friday's contest will pit the two teams with the longest current win streaks in the Big South. High Point is riding an eight-game winning streak while the Eagles have won four in a row, a program record.
Winthrop advanced through the quarterfinal round Wednesday, downing Coastal Carolina 14-8 at Eagle Field. Sophomore Hayley Krause led the team with five points on four goals and one assist. Junior Jenna Kasmarik notched four goals while sophomore Shannon Gallagher finished with three goals and one assist.
The Eagles got strong play from its defense against the Chanticleers, holding them to only one goal through the first 23 minutes of the second half and three total in the second period. Sophomore goalie Camille King finished with seven saves and caused four turnovers while picking up five ground balls.
High Point went undefeated in the Big South and cruised past Presbyterian in the quarterfinals Wednesday, 20-3. Eleven different Panthers scored in the victory and were led by Sara Kuhlman who had five goals and on assist. Mackenzie Carroll tallied a game-high six assists and scored one goal.
Winthrop and High Point met once during the regular season at Eagle Field with the Panthers leaving with an 18-7 victory. Kasmarik scored four of Winthrop's goals with three others scoring one each. Mackenzie Carroll also recorded six assists in that game to go along with two goals. Kendyl Gardner scored four goals to lead High Point.
The winner of Friday's first semi-final will meet the winner of second-seeded Davidson and third-seeded Longwood in Sunday's Big South Championship. The title game will be played at High Point at 2 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPN3.
