CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The High Point University men's lacrosse team dropped a close contest to No. 6 Virginia on Tuesday, 18-15. Redshirt freshman Devon Buckshot stole the show, finishing with a team-high five goals and one assist for six points on the night.
Virginia (3-1) scored first but HPU (1-4) answered by going on a 4-0 run to start the first quarter. Dalton Sulver scored two goals in the first, running his total to six this season, while Tyler Acra and Koby Russel added two assists each, leading UVA to call a timeout. Virginia went on a five-goal run after the timeout, as the Hoos led 6-4 after the first quarter.
Buckshot scored his first goal of the night in the second quarter with 8:44 left in the half to cut the Cavs’ lead to two at 7-5. UVA scored three more goals to stretch its lead 10-5. The Panthers came charging back, as Buckshot picked up his second goal of the game to make it 10-6. Asher Nolting helped the Panther cause by scoring the seventh High Point goal with 2:31 left in the first half. HPU's defense made some big stops down the stretch, as the score at the break was 10-7.
UVA scored the first goal of the second half, but Sulver and Buckshot would have an answer. Buckshot came down the field and as he was picked up by three defensemen, he was able to find Sulver, who scored to put the score at 12-9. PJ Peters caused a turnover, Nick Walsh picked up the ground ball, ran down the field and passed it to Collin Clothier, who spun around avoiding his defender and scored to make it a two-point game with 9:09 remaining.
On a man-up opportunity, the Panthers took advantage as Sean Coughlin scored to make it a two-goal game. UVA scored a goal to answer. On a transition play, Nolting found an open Grant Ammann, who scored a goal to again make it a two-goal game with 2:06 remaining in the third. With 1:09 remaining, Russell scored to make it just a one-goal game. The Panthers got the last possession of the third quarter. Nolting drove to the goal but was swarmed by defenders, losing the ball, but Buckshot picked up the loose ball and scored as time expired. Buckshot's buzzer-beating goal tied the game at 13. Nolting had three assists in the third quarter alone.
The Cavaliers made the first move in the fourth quarter to go up 14-13. Buckshot scored with 11:11 left in the fourth quarter, assisted by Nolting. Buckshot tied the game once again at 14. Less than two minutes later, UVA would regain the lead to go up one (15-14). With 9:32 left, the magic continued as Buckshot once again found the back of the net to tie the game at 15. High Point had high-quality chances during the six-minute-long scoreless period of the fourth quarter, but UVA goalie Alex Rode made some big saves down the stretch.
Parker Green played the entire game, making 15 saves on the night.
Up next, the Panthers travel to face Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, on Saturday at 11 a.m.