HPU Men’s Soccer Wins, 1-0, at Presbyterian College

CLINTON, S.C. – The High Point University men’s soccer team went on the road and picked up a 1-0 win over Presbyterian College in Big South action Saturday night in Clinton, S.C. Sophomore Mamadee Nyepon scored HPU’s lone goal on the night.

“I am proud that we were able to go on the road and get three points from this game,” head coach Dustin Fonder said. “We have gone through a tough stretch recently so hopefully this win can give us some positive momentum down the stretch. We wanted to get back to keeping clean sheets so we are very pleased to have kept Presbyterian College off the board.”

The game was a scoreless affair until the 67th minute when Nyepon scored his 10th goal of the season to put the Panthers ahead 1-0. Freshman Ben Burdon was played in behind the defense on the right side of the field and took the ball to the endline before hitting an angled ball back to the near post. Nyepon came back to the ball and controlled it with his back to goal before turning and tucking it away with a left-footed shot past the keeper for the eventual game winner.

High Point’s defense stifled the Blue Hose, holding them to just two shots on goal in the contest. Redshirt-freshman Kody Palmer made two saves to pick up his ninth shutout of the season. Palmer is now tied for the HPU Div. I single-season record in shutouts along with Michael Chesler who set the mark in 2010.

High Point improves to 12-3-2 overall and 5-2-2 in the Big South with the win. The 12 wins for the Panthers is the second most in a single season in the team’s Div. I era. Presbyterian College drops to 3-14-0 overall and 2-6-0 in the Big South with the loss.

High Point wraps up the 2012 regular season on Nov. 2 when the team heads to Conway, S.C., to take on No. 9 Coastal Carolina at 7 p.m. The Panthers are 3-14-2 all-time against CCU including a 2-0 loss to the Chanticleers last season at Vert Stadium.