HPU WSOC Passes Presbyterian 4-1

• High Point University women’s soccer secures its second Big South win of the year in 4-1 final against visiting Presbyterian
• Four different Panthers scored against the Blue Hose, with freshmen Megan Baker and Shaylyn Owen each getting the first of their careers

HIGH POINT, N.C.- High Point University women’s soccer claimed its second Big South win of the season this Wednesday, routing visiting Presbyterian College 4-1. Four different Panthers got on the board against the Blue Hose, with freshmen Megan Baker and Shaylyn Owen both hitting the back of the net for the first time in their career.

With both sides combining for just three shots in the opening 28 minutes, the Panthers would be the first to eventually open up the scoring, with Baker tallying her first goal since coming to High Point. After beating her mark down the left side, redshirt-freshman forward Charla Ward played a dangerous ball inside the 18, delivering a streaking cross right at chest level. The Presbyterian defense was unable to handle the heavily hit ball, deflecting it toward Baker, who managed to steer the ball across the goal line with the use of her chest.

Baker would get another shot on net before the end of the half, but the Panthers would go to break with a single-goal advantage. The hosting side looked to double its lead immediately at the start of the second, putting increased pressure on the Presbyterian goal.

After a shot from forward Brooke Parsons was denied in the 51st, freshman Skyler Prillaman scored her team’s second goal of the night just moments later, beating the PC goalkeeper one-on-one. The Blue Hose provided a strict offsides trap against the Panthers, that would eventually pay off in the home team’s favor, as Mackenzie Mullins dropped a ball over the Presbyterian back line, to a streaking Prillaman.

“I think they [Presbyterian] were a little more worried about us being able to keep possession underneath, so that’s why they set [the offsides trap] to try and force us to go big,” said Head Coach Brandi Fontaine. “…We worked on some things in training this week, and we were finally able to find the bigger balls to get in behind, and then execute after that.”

The freshman delivered on the opportunity, netting her fifth tally of the season, the most of any other Panther this year. The Panthers kept pressure on through the continuing minutes, eventually getting another opportunity on an indirect free kick in the 68th.

After the Presbyterian goalkeeper was called for an illegal pass-back, the Panthers received an indirect kick from just inside the 18 that was put away by freshman Shaylyn Owen. Scoring her first goal of her career in Purple & White, Owen delivered her attempt along the turf just inside the right post, giving her side a three-goal advantage with roughly 20 minutes remaining.

Alex Denny wrapped up the Panthers’ scoring in the 85th minute, securing her fourth goal of the year, and her second scored with less than 10 minutes remaining. With Presbyterian pushing its offense forward, Denny and freshman Lauren Mazich were able to take advantage of the lack of PC numbers at the back, as the latter provided a perfectly timed pass for the streaking Denny, and an easy put away.

The visitors eventually broke through the tight Panther defense, scoring their lone goal of the evening with just 14 seconds remaining. The 4-1 final against the Blue Hose gives HPU an eight-game win streak against the program, as Presbyterian is yet to win a game at High Point.

>> With Owen and Baker each getting on the scoresheet, 11 of HPU’s 18 goals have been scored by freshmen in 2018
>> The Blue Hose had five corner opportunities to the Panthers’ four, the first time this year HPU has won a match while losing in the corner kick category