Rombach’s PK Leads High Point Women’s Soccer Past Ohio, 1-0

• Senior Paige Rombach delivered on a penalty kick in the 19th minute for her first goal of the season.
• Senior Alex Hank and redshirt-sophomore Charlotte Kennedy combined to make seven saves for HPU’s second clean sheet of the year.
• Kennedy made five saves in her first career appearance, including a pair in the final three minutes of action.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s soccer team survived a strong second half rally from the visiting Ohio Bobcats to post a 1-0 win in the home opener on Friday at Vert Stadium. Two HPU goalkeepers combined to make seven saves for the team’s second shutout of the season.

“I’m proud of our team for defending our home field,” head coach Marty Beall said. “We had a great crowd tonight that really energized them. The team really stuck to its tactics throughout the game. Charlotte Kennedy came on in goal in the second half and did unbelievably well coming up with huge saves.”

Kennedy, who was making her first career appearance, relieved senior Alex Hank at halftime and proved to be a difference-maker in net. With the Panthers (2-1-0) ahead 1-0 after a Paige Rombach penalty kick in the first half, Kennedy made five stops after intermission. In the 87th minute, Ohio’s Courtney Daugerdas put a great ball on the net that Kennedy punched dove for and punched over the top left corner to keep the lead. A minute later, Bryce Hueber of the Bobcats (2-1-0) made a run into the box, but Kennedy had the answer once again, smoothly collecting the shot in stride.

The Bobcats maintained a majority of the possession, outshooting High Point 20-7 in the game and 7-2 in shots on net. Hank improved to 2-0-0 on the season by virtue of making a pair of saves in the first half. She has still yet to allow a goal in 180 minutes of action this season.

The Panthers were able to strike for the lone goal of the match in the 19th minute. After a foul in the box, Rombach was selected to take the penalty kick for High Point. The Ohio native calmly stroked the shot into the lower right corner for her first goal of the season and seventh of her career.

“Moving forward, we just need to recover now and get out bodies ready for Sunday’s huge matchup at South Carolina.” Beall said. “We definitely have our hands full, but I think our girls will be up to the challenge.

The Purple & White take on the No. 3 Gamecocks on Sunday at 7 p.m. in Columbia, S.C. The game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.