HPU Women’s Soccer Drops 2-0 Decision to Liberty

• High Point surrendered two second-half goals to the Flames to fall by a score of 2-0.
• Freshman Alex Persiani made one save in a scoreless first half.
• High Point falls to 5-4-3 overall and 2-2-1 in the Big South.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s soccer team surrendered two second-half goals to fall to Big South preseason favorite Liberty by a score of 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Vert Stadium.

“I thought we very much underperformed today, especially in our effort,” head coach Marty Beall said. “I have to give credit to Liberty, they just simply outworked us today. They didn’t out soccer us but they definitely out worked us. I am simply disappointed in our team right now. We are going to make sure this never happens again.”

Liberty’s Baylee Gillmore found the net twice in the second half to give the Flames the two-goal win. Gillmore scored the first with a shot from a tight angle on the right side off a pass from Brittany Aanderud in the 52nd minute. She scored her second 10 minutes later when she pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box after a failed clear of a free kick.

High Point’s best scoring chance of the day came late in the first half when freshman Aley Kate McKinley was played in on goal and got a shot off from 10-yards out. The shot by the freshman forced a diving save by Liberty keeper Holly Van Noord, keeping the game knotted at 0-0.

Van Noord made three saves in the game to earn her ninth win of the season and her conference-best eighth clean sheet. Freshman Jordan Beets played the second half and took the loss for High Point, dropping to 4-3-2 on the season. Fellow freshman Alex Persiani played the first half and made HPU’s only save of the game.

Liberty put up three shots in the closing seconds to finish the game with a 9-6 edge in total shots. Both teams had three shots on goal and High Point had a slim 3-2 edge in corner kicks.

The loss drops High Point to 5-4-3 overall and 2-2-1 in Big South play this season. Liberty improved to 9-3-1 overall and sits atop the conference standings with a 5-0-1 record against Big South opponents.

High Point returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 15 when it wraps up its current three-game home stand with a match against UNC Asheville. The game is set to kickoff at 7 p.m.