HPU Women’s Soccer Earns 4-0 Win Over South Carolina State

• Four different players scored for the Panthers in the 4-0 win.
• The Panthers outshot South Carolina State 18-1
• Freshmen Jordan Beets and Alex Persiani combined for their third shutout of the season.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The High Point University women’s soccer team rolled to a 4-0 win over South Carolina State at the USC Upstate Border Classic on Sunday afternoon in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Four players scored for the Panthers in the win.

“I am proud of the composure the team showed today,” head coach Marty Beall said. “We worked hard and defended very well today which allowed to walk away with a hard-fought win. I am excited about our start this season, which is the best in our Div. I history.”

High Point took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute on freshman Paige Rombach‘s first collegiate goal. The midfielder controlled a loose ball just outside the box and beat the SCSU keeper with a hard shot to the far-side netting.

The Panthers doubled their lead to 2-0 in the 20th minute when redshirt-freshman Meghan Beidleman found freshman Becca Rolfe. Rolfe was set loose behind the defense with a through ball and dribbled at the keeper before finishing with a low shot to the right post for her second goal of the season.

High Point added its third goal of the half in the 44th minute on Aley Kate McKinley‘s first collegiate goal. The midfielder took a pass from freshman Meredith Dunker and finished to put the Panthers ahead by a score of 3-0 at the break. Dunker crossed the ball from the left into the box to McKinley who volleyed it into the net at the right post for the goal.

The Panthers final goal came in the 69th minute when senior Sarah Sermonet scored to push the HPU lead to 4-0. The ball bounced loose in the penalty area and Sermonet got her foot on it, beating the keeper inside the left post for the goal.

High Point finished with an 18-1 edge in shots, putting 12 of the 18 shots on frame. The Panthers also had a 6-3 edge in corner kicks on the day.

Freshmen Jordan Beets and Alex Persiani each played a half for HPU and did not face a shot on the afternoon. Beets started the game for the Panthers and earned the win to improve to 3-0-1 on the season. The shutout was the third split between the freshmen this season.

High Point improves to 3-1-2 on the season with the win over the Bulldogs. South Carolina State drops to 1-6-0 in 2014.

High Point next travels to Greensboro, North Carolina to take on inter-Triad rival UNC Greensboro on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. HPU is 0-4-0 all-time against the Spartans.