US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20 on Dec. 17. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com through the end of the month and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition in February.

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No. 20 High Point

2019 Record: 15-5 (6-0, Big South)
Coach: Lyndsey Boswell (10th season)
Assistants: Kelly McQuilkin, Holly Turner

All-Time Record: 123-51
NCAA Appearances: 5
Final Fours: 0
Championships: 0

2020 Schedule

Save the Date
Feb. 22

The Big South hasn't tested High Point nearly as much as out-of-conference games in recent seasons, and an early test against James Madison, another Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women's Preseason Top 20 team, will go far in showing the Panthers' potential. The last time that JMU visited, High Point hung close before falling, 13-11.

Chapman "working her way into the midfield"

Meredith Chapman did some “midfielder jobs” this fall as High Point experimented with moving last season’s Big South Defensive Player of the Year.

“She’s working her way into the midfield,” head coach Lydnsey Boswell said. “She’s more of a defensive middie. She makes a lot of things happen. She’s the spark for our offense. As she causes turnovers and creates offense, she is the spark that gets our offense going, too, through the transition game.”

The Panthers figure that unleashing Chapman over more of the field would only increase her impact and bring more experience in the midfield.

“She has a huge voice and presence,” Boswell said. “We do rely heavily on her to lead some of the younger girls and show them the ropes and get them out of their comfort zone.”

Moving Chapman to the midfield would mean taking her out of her comfort zone as well, but it’s the next step forward for the homegrown product from Apex (N.C.). She’s shown she’s not as defensive minded as when she arrived. She had two goals and seven assists last year in limited opportunities.

“She has the ability to see the cage, and she has the confidence to take it to cage if needed and when needed,” Boswell said. “She’s also seen herself as a defender. Now that she’s seeing how impactful she can be on the draw circle, in transition, in the ride and not just on defense, she’s gained a lot of confidence over the last year in being a part of all aspects of the game.”

The fifth-year senior has helped High Point become an elite defense. The Panthers ranked sixth in scoring defense last year and were second in 2018, rankings sometimes overshadowed by their high-flying attack.

“Our defense is the cause of our goals,” Boswell said. “Our defense is the reason that we’re able to score a lot of goals. We turn a lot of defense into offense. If it’s not a saved goal or an unforced error, next would be a caused turnover. We put a lot of emphasis on anticipating the next play and being ahead of the game. Our defense kind of creates that for us and puts themselves out there for us.”

Chapman last year ranked sixth in the nation in caused turnovers per game and broke the school’s single-season record with 53. She caused seven turnovers in a Big South tournament semifinal.

“If she’s really aggressive and she’s taking risks,” Boswell said, “it usually gives the green light for the rest of the team to take those risks and feel confident taking them.”

Chapman’s skills, combined with her athleticism, have positioned her for a possible move to the midfield if High Point needs her there.

“Her athletic ability has always been above and beyond what is good for a defender,” Boswell said. “Her confidence is something she’s worked on. She’s worked on her fitness. She has committed fully to the whole big picture of what it takes to be the best lacrosse player. She’s worked on her stick skills and refined those. She’s really taken herself out of her comfort zone in the offseason. This past fall really showed all of her potential coming to fruition. She’s been able to show she’s an attacking defender.”

Projected Starters

A – Jenna Harms – Fr. – 87 P, 67 DC (Manasquan HS, N.J.)
A – Abby Hormes – Jr. – 103 P, 79 DC
A – Rachel Foster – Jr. – 39 G, 14 A
A – Kylie Holthaus – Sr. – 16 P, 6 GB
M – Ashley Britton – Sr. – 39 G, 24 GB
M – CJ Amster – So. – 7 G, 8 GB
M – Emma Genovese – So. – 7 A, 15 DC
D – Meredith Chapman – Sr. – 53 CT, 77 DC
D – Hayley Norris – Sr. – 43 GB, 36 CT
D –​ Abbie Karalis – Sr. – 26 CT, 26 GB
D – Megan Nerney – Sr. – 4 GB, 4 DC
G – Sarah Zeto – Jr. – 44.8 SV%, 10.22 GAA

Tewaaraton Watch
Abby Hormes, A, Jr.

Last year’s Big South Offensive Player of the Year has been an impact player since her arrival on campus. She is building on a season in which she topped the program records for points and goals and tied the draw control record, setting the stage for an even bigger junior campaign.

X Factor
Ashley Britton, M, Sr.

Britton was the Panthers’ second-leading scorer when a season-ending injury cost the two-time All-Big South first-team selection the final seven games of last year. A team captain, she provides talent and experience to their youngest area. She takes draws, makes scrappy plays and does a little bit of everything for the Panthers.

National Rankings

18

The Panthers have won 18 straight Big South regular-season games, going unbeaten in the conference and winning each of the last three conference tournaments. Their smallest margin of victory in the conference regular season last year was 11 goals. They won both Big South tournament games by seven goals apiece.