HPU women’s soccer earns 4-0 win over Gardner-Webb

• High Point rolled to a 4-0 win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday afternoon at Vert Stadium.
• Freshman Alex Denny scored her first two collegiate goals for the brace in the win.
• Junior Alex Hank stopped six shots to pick up her third shutout of the season.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s soccer team remained undefeated in the Big South with a 4-0 win over Gardner-Webb at Vert Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Alex Denny recorded a brace for HPU in the win.

“This was a great team win today,” head coach Marty Beall said. “I was very proud of how the bench played today. Everyone who came off the bench did a fantastic job and they really raised our level of play. We came out a little flat but they gave us a lift and we were able to score a couple goals. They really set the tone for the rest of the game.”

High Point improves to 6-4-1 overall and 2-0-0 in the Big South with the win while Gardner-Webb drops to 4-7-2 overall and 1-2-0 in conference play.

The Panthers took the lead in the 24th minute on the first collegiate goal by freshman Alex Denny. Redshirt-senior Kelsey Perrell got behind the GWU backline and forced a diving save. The rebound fell to the feet of Denny who coolly slotted it home for the 1-0 lead.

Junior Michele Micciche doubled the Panther lead in the 30th minute with finish just in front of goal off a throw in from junior Becca Rolfe. The goal extended HPU’s advantage to 2-0.

Denny scored her second goal of the game just four minutes later with a header off a corner kick from junior Taylor Romano, pushing the lead to 3-0. The freshman hit a looping header that fell just under the crossbar for goal.

The High Point defense withstood a charge from the Runnin’ Bulldogs to start the second half then redshirt-senior Kelsey Perrell found a goal on the counter attack in the 62nd minute to push the Panther lead to 4-0. Redshirt-sophomore Meredith Dunker controlled an outlet pass and dribbled to the edge of the 18 before delivering a cross, which Perrell headed past the on-rushing keeper. The goal was Perrell’s sixth of the season.

Junior Alex Hank stopped six shots to record her third clean sheet of the season and improve to 5-4-1 overall. High Point controlled possession throughout and finished the game with a 19-10 edge in shots and a 10-6 advantage in shots on goal.

The Panthers next head to Buies Creek, N.C., to take on Campbell on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.