HPU women’ soccer moves atop the Big South with 2-0 win at Radford

• High Point earned its 10th win of the season with a 2-0 win at Radford on Saturday night.
• The Panthers got first-half goals from redshirt-senior Kelsey Perrelland freshman Alex Denny.
• HPU can clinch the Big South Regular Season Championship with a win at Winthrop on Tuesday.

RADFORD, Va. – The High Point University women’s soccer team clinched home field in the Big South Quarterfinals with a 2-0 win at Radford on Saturday night in Radford, Va.

“This is a really important win for the team late in the season,” head coach Marty Beall said. “I thought our first half was pretty poor, especially our individual defending and ball movement. Thankfully we were able to capitalize on our two scoring opportunities. That being said, I am proud of the way the team responded in the second half. Our performance in the second half was fantastic.”

High Point improved to 10-5-2 overall and 6-1-1 in the Big South with the win over the Highlanders who drop to 7-8-0 overall and 5-4-0 in the Big South.

Perrell notched her ninth goal of the season in the 21st minute for the first score of the game, giving HPU a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Callyn Loughrey delivered a cross into the box and Perrell made a far-post run for the tap in and the lead.

The Panthers then doubled their lead in the 37th minute on a goal by freshman Alex Denny, her third of the year. The freshman was fed by redshirt-sophomore Meredith Dunker and scored with a shot from 15 yards for a 2-0 lead.

HPU held the Highlanders to just three shots on goal and outshot RU, 17-11, on the way to its seventh shutout of the season. Junior Alex Hank had three saves in goal to improve to 9-5-2 on the season.

High Point concludes the regular season with a road game at Winthrop on Tuesday, Oc.t 25, in Rock Hill, S.C., at 6 p.m. The Panthers can claim an outright Big South Regular Season Championship with a win over the Eagles.