HPU lacrosse teams learn NCAA foes

May 11—HIGH POINT — Both of High Point University's lacrosse teams will begin NCAA Tournament play in the Triangle area later this week.

The HPU women face unseeded Maryland in a first-round game Friday at 7 p.m. in Duke University's Koskinen Stadium. The winner would advance to face Thursday's Duke vs.Mount St. Mary's winner on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The HPU men, meanwhile, began play Sunday at 5 p.m. against No. 2-seed Duke at Dorrance Stadium in Chapel Hill. The match will be televised on ESPNU.

HPU's women gained their tournament ticket by getting an automatic bid as the Big South tournament champion. It is the Panthers' fourth straight tournament trip and seventh all-time.

HPU is 10-7 this season and went undefeated in eight games against Big South competition. Maryland is an at-large selection after going 9-6 overall and 6-5 in the Big Ten 10 regular season. The Terrapins lost to NCAA No. 3-seed Northwestern 17-12 in the Big Ten championship game.

HPU and Maryland have met in NCAA Tournament play once, a 2017 second-round game after the Panthers posted a first-round victory over Towson that remains their only NCAA Tournament win. The Terrapins downed HPU 21-6 on the way to the national championship.

HPU got into the men's tournament as an automatic qualifier by defeating Richmond in the Southern Conference tournament championship game (the Big South does not sanction men's lacrosse).

HPU is 8-5 and riding a six-match winning streak. The Panthers lost at Duke 27-8 on March 10 in Durham.

Duke is 12-2 with the losses to No.1 seed North Carolina and No. 6 seed Notre Dame.

It is the 24th NCAA Appearance for Duke, which has won the tournament three times and is the No. 2 seed for the third time. The Blue Devils are 17-6 all-time in first-round games.

HPU is making its second NCAA appearance. The Panthers lost to Towson 10-8 in 2015