HPU Women’s Soccer Drops Season Opener at Virginia Tech, 7-1

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The High Point University women’s soccer team fell on the road at Virginia Tech by a score of 7-1 in the Panthers’ first game of the 2013 season. Redshirt-freshman Jill Graff scored the lone goal of the game for HPU.

“Virginia Tech is a very good team, probably the best team that we will face this season,” head coach Marty Beallsaid. “The first half as we tried to generate attacks we would lose possession and they were able to score quickly. When you give up the ball in the defensive third against a team like Virginia Tech they are going to make you pay. That being said, I was proud of how resilient the team was tonight. We came out in the second half and had some good possession in the attacking third and Jill Graff had a great goal.”

Virginia Tech took control of the game with two goals during a four minute stretch early in the first half. Jazmine Reeves got the Hokies on the board in the 13th minute when she got a through ball and dribbled into the box before hitting a low shot past HPU keeper Jesse May. Tech then doubled its lead in the 17th minute on a goal by Ashley Meier after the midfielder split the Panther center backs.

Down two goals, High Point began to settle the game and gain more possession. The Panthers had two quality scoring chances as both freshman Kai-Lin Hernandez and senior Kelli Joline forced saves by the Virginia Tech keeper.

The Hokies’ Ashley Manning doubled Virginia Tech’s lead with two goals late in the first half. Manning scored once in the 30th minute and again in the 36th minute to put Tech ahead 4-0 at the half.

Virginia Tech added goals by Murielle Tieran in the 52nd minute and Danielle King in 59th minute to take a 6-0 lead with 30 minutes left to play.

High Point broke through with a goal in the 73rd minute by Graff off a corner kick. Graff picked up the corner with a shot from 25-yards out that the Tech keeper pushed over the cross bar. Freshman Marissa Sullivan hit the corner to the near post where Graff redirected it with a header for her first collegiate goal.

Virginia Tech tacked on one final goal from Katherine Colevas with just over 10 minutes left in the game to make the final score 7-1.

High Point returns to action on Friday, Aug. 30, when the team heads to Williamsburg, Va., to face William & Mary. Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m.