HPU Women’s Soccer Loses At Longwood By A Score Of 4-2

FARMVILLE, Va. – The High Point University women’s soccer team fell on the road to Longwood by a score of 4-2 on Wednesday night in Farmville, Va. Senior Taylor Parker and junior Sarah Sermonet found the back of the net for HPU in the contest.

“Longwood was fantastic tonight,” head coach Marty Beall said. “They were first to the ball and their attacking play was great. Unfortunately our attacking play lacked quality in the final third. I am proud of the way our team hung in there and came back at the end. I will do a better job of preparing the team to play at a higher level moving forward.”

The Panthers fell behind 2-0 in the opening 10 minutes of the game after Longwood goals by Alana Mackey and Amanda Spencer. Mackey put the Lancers ahead in the fifth minute when she hit a shot into the top of the net from 15 yards following a corner kick. Two minutes later Spencer scored on a rebound after HPU keeper Jesse May made a diving save on a shot from 20-yards out.

Longwood continued to extend its lead in the 16th minute on Spencer’s second goal of the night, making the score 3-0. The Lancers attacked on a counter and Gina O’Orazio found Spencer making the run to the right post. The forward shot with her first touch beating May who was trying to recover to the far side.

The Lancers scored their final goal in the 75th minute to make the score 4-0. A loose ball in front of the HPU goal was controlled by two Longwood players inside the six-yard box. May stopped the first shot by Spencer two-yards in front of goal, but the rebound was hit in past the prone keeper by Christina Corbin.

Down 4-0, High Point got a goal back in the 80th minute with a score by Parker from 25-yards away. The Panthers earned a free kick in the attacking third and freshman Marissa Sullivan hit a lofted ball into the box. The ball was cleared out but only as far as Parker who chested it down and took a touch before hitting a high shot that snuck between the crossbar and keeper’s hand. The goal was the fifth of the season for Parker.

With time winding down in the game, Sermonet scored her second goal of the season to make the final score 4-2. Junior Jacky Kessler was played down the right side and dribbled to the end line before crossing to the near post. Sermonet made a run to the right post and scored from just in front of goal with three seconds left in the match.

Longwood finished with a 21-18 advantage in shots including a 14-six edge in shots on goal. May made a season-high 10 saves in the loss for High Point while Shelby Hall made four saves in a winning effort for Longwood.

The loss drops HPU to 5-7-0 overall and 3-2-0 in the Big South while Longwood improves to 5-6-2 overall and 4-1-0 in the Big South with the win.

High Point continues its current road trip on Saturday, Oct. 12, when the team travels to Lynchburg, Va., to take on Liberty University. Kick off in the game is set for 6 p.m.