2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #47 High Point Panthers

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019.

We’ve already begun looking back to 2018 with some team recaps thus far and continued our series this week with UMBC, Providence, Drexel, and Army West Point.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#47 High Point Panthers

Conference: SoCon
2018 Record: 6-8 (6-1 in SoCon play)
Postseason: Lost to Jacksonville in SoCon semifinals
Head coach: Jon Torpey (6th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Connor Robinson (36)
Assists: Asher Nolting (36)
Points: Asher Nolting (66)
Faceoffs: Davis Sampere (154-of-287; 53.7%)
Ground balls: Davis Sampere (83)
Caused turnovers: Terrell Sands (16)
Goals against average: Tim Troutner Jr. (11.21 GAA)
Save percentage: Tim Troutner Jr. (53.1%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: A Connor Robinson (36 Gs, 9 As, 35 GBs), D Terrell Sands (26 GBs, 16 CTs, 1 G, 1 A), M Peyton Garrett (11 Gs, 1 A), M Jason Ashwood (3 Gs, 5 As), M Adam Dickson (6 Gs, 1 A)
Senior scoring departing: 74 of 238 points (31.1%)
Senior starts lost: 34 of 140 (24.3%)

Season Summary

Despite play in the SoCon, Asher Nolting was as good as advertised. The Colorado native led the Panthers with 36 assists and 66 points to jumpstart the High Point offense to a return to the SoCon Tournament.

But it wasn’t a good start to the season for Jon Torpey’s squad, going 0-6 in nonconference play. After bad games against Duke and Georgetown, the Panthers held their own against Maryland and Virginia. After trailing by seven goals in the second quarter, High Point responded and cut the Terrapin lead to a goal on multiple occasions. The Panthers then jumped ahead of Virginia in a midweek game, before the Cavaliers caught up in the second half.

Once SoCon play began, High Point got their groove going. They finished second in conference play with a 6-1 record, with their only loss coming against Richmond. They faced Jacksonville in the SoCon semifinals and appeared to be on their way to the conference championship game up 10-4 10 seconds into the third quarter. But the Dolphins went on two separate 4-0 runs to take home the win in overtime.

Outside of Nolting, the Panthers got scoring help from seniors Connor Robinson and Chris Young, who had 45 and 24 points respectively from attack. Up at midfield, the emergence of freshman Koby Russell was much appreciated with 15 points. Senior Peyton Garrett put up 12 points and sophomore Dalton Sulver had 11.

Senior Terrell Sands was the top defender for High Point with a team-high 16 caused turnovers. Freshman LSM Clayton Krol followed right behind with 13 CTs. Junior Joel Schwarz and redshirt-freshman Chris Price completed the close unit for the majority of the season. Junior goalie Tim Troutner Jr. recorded similar numbers to his sophomore season.

Looking Ahead

The Panthers lose Robinson on attack, which is a big loss. But Chris Young will return after he was granted a fifth year of eligibility, according to a High Point spokesman. He’ll be the main Canadian finisher with Robinson gone. Russell and Sulver return to the midfield, along with sophomores Ricky Koehler and Mitchell Snyder.

The loss to Sands as a defensive unit will be hard to fathom for the Panthers, but with Krol, Schwarz, Price, senior Griff Caligiuri, and sophomore Nick Walsh, High Point shouldn’t have a problem with Troutner in cage. Davis Sampere and junior Brandon Savoie both return as the team’s faceoff men.

Here’s who the Panthers will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from a multitude of websites. Schools usually officially announce their recruiting class during the fall semester.