HPU women’s soccer loses exhibition game against No. 24 South Carolina, 2-0

• High Point dropped an exhibition game at home to No. 24 South Carolina, 2-0, on Saturday night.
• The Panthers were outshot, 17-6, but junior Alex Hank and sophomore Emily Lyon combined for nine saves.
• All six of HPU’s shots came in the second half, including three from junior Becca Rolfe.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s soccer team fell at home to No. 24 South Carolina by a score of 2-0 in exhibition action on Saturday night at Vert Stadium. Junior Alex Hank and sophomore Emily Lyon combined to make nine saves in the contest.

“Both of our exhibition matches were against top-notch opponents,” head coach Marty Beall said. “Playing against a top-25 team like South Carolina is a great learning experience and UNCW beat South Carolina last year. To compete the way we did in these two games makes me think we are in a great position to start the season. Our girls are excited and looking forward to kicking off on Friday.”

The Gamecocks took a lead with a goal in the 25th minute off the foot of Sophie Groff. Hank came off her line to break up a USC attack at the edge of the penalty area but the ball fell to the feet of Groff who took two touches before converting on the empty net for a goal.

South Carolina doubled its advantage in the 69th minute with a finish by Kaleigh Kurtz at the doorstep after a great diving save by Lyon. The Gamecocks had a header off a corner kick that forced Lyon to dive low and to her right to make a one-handed stop but the rebound fell to Kurtz right in front of the net.

Hank, the defending Big South Defensive Player of the Year, played 60 minutes and made four saves on the night while Lyon stopped five shots in the final 30 minutes of action for the Panthers.

Junior Becca Rolfe led HPU with three shots on the night, including one on frame. All six of the Panthers’ shots came after the halftime break as HPU held an edge in shots for the period until the closing minutes.

High Point will open the 2016 regular season on the road against inter-Triad rival UNCG on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m., in Greensboro, N.C. The Panthers picked up their first-ever win over the Spartans with a 2-0 victory at Vert Stadium last season.