HPU Women’s Soccer Falls At Home To UNC Greensboro, 3-1

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s soccer team fell in their home opener to UNC Greensboro by a score of 3-1 on Friday night. Senior Kelli Joline found the back of the net for the Panthers in the loss.

“I am very pleased with our performance tonight,” head coach Marty Beall said. “UNC Greensboro is an outstanding team and I feel like we out played them in the middle of the field. The difference tonight was that we did not have enough quality in the defensive and offensive thirds. I am excited about the growth that the program has shown. Last year when we played them we were out shot 20-5 and tonight we out shot them, which speaks volumes to the hard work our players are putting in every day to get better.”

The Spartans scored the first goal of the game in the 19th minute with a header from Chesney White. UNCG’s Ashley Stokes delivered a cross from the right side to the far post where White lofted a soft header over the outstretched hands of HPU goalie Ivy Cocklereece.

The Panthers pushed for an equalizer coming out of halftime, putting up three shots, including one on goal, in the first 17 minutes of the second half.

UNC Greensboro doubled its lead with a goal against the run of play by Katelyn Mountjoy in the 73rd minute to make the score 2-0. Candice Forbes found space at the end line on the right flank and hit a low cross into the box. The ball was kicked around in front of the goal before being tapped in by Mountjoy.

Mountjoy scored her second goal of the game just four minutes later when she corralled an HPU goal kick and cut back to her left foot before hitting a low shot past Cocklereece to push the Spartan lead to 3-0.

High Point got on the board in the 79th minute with Joline’s first goal of the season, making the score 3-1. Redshirt-sophomore Claire Kelly forced a save with a shot from outside the box. The rebound came to senior Becca Hemby whose header was blocked out to Joline. The forward hit a hard shot into the left side netting for the goal. The goal was the first surrendered by UNCG keeper Jaime Simmons in regulation this season.

High Point finished with a 15-9 advantage in overall shots with both teams putting seven shots on goal. Cocklereece made four saves in her season debut for HPU.

The Panthers fall to 0-3-0 on the season with the loss while UNCG improves to 4-1-0.

High Point travels to Burlington, N.C. on Sunday, Sept. 8, to face another inter-Triad rival, Elon. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.