CONWAY, S.C. – The High Point University men’s soccer team fell to No. 8 Coastal Carolina by a score of 1-0 in both team’s regular-season finale on Friday night in Conway, S.C. Redshirt-freshman Kody Palmer
“I thought the team performed well and gave a good effort tonight,” Fonder said. “Coastal Carolina is an absolutely top-notch opponent. I felt that the team really competed in a very difficult environment. We will use this game as a great learning tool heading into the conference tournament next week.”
Coastal Carolina entered the weekend second in the nation in scoring, but was held without a goal until almost the 60th minute by a composed HPU defense.
The Chanticleers broke through with the only goal of the game in the 60th minute when Ricky Garbanzo scored to put CCU ahead, 1-0. Ashton Bennett put Garbanzo in with a touch pass through the defense allowing the forward to score with a shot to the center of the goal.
Coastal looked to quickly double its lead, putting two shots on frame in the following five minutes. Palmer came up big for the Panthers, denying both the scoring opportunities and keeping the HPU deficit at a single goal.
High Point tried to tie the game in the closing minutes but a shot by senior Shane Malcolm
Palmer made several great saves while holding Coastal to nearly two goals less than its season-scoring average. The Panthers held Bennett, the Big South’s leading scorer, without a goal for the second-straight season. HPU had seven shots for the game with three on goal. Sophomore Mamadee Nyepon
High Point finishes the season with a 12-4-2 overall record and a 5-3-2 record in the Big South. Coastal Carolina finishes the season with a 16-1-2 overall and a perfect 10-0-0 in the Big South.
High Point will next move on to play in the Big South tournament beginning on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Seedings and host sites will be determined following the conclusion of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 3.