HPU Men’s Soccer Picks Up 3-0 Road Win At UNC Asheville

• High Point picked up a 3-0 win at UNC Asheville to start conference play at 1-0-0.
• Junior Chris Ramsell notched a goal and an assist in the win for the Panthers.
• Redshirt-senior Kody Palmer matched the HPU Div. I career record with his 20th shutout.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men’s soccer team opened Big South play with a 3-0 win on the road at UNC Asheville on Sunday afternoon in Asheville, N.C. Junior Chris Ramsell had a goal and an assist for HPU in the victory.

“It is always great to get three points in the league, especially away from home,” head coach EJ O’Keeffe said. “I thought we played our best 90 minutes in all three phases today. We created really good chances and found three goals because of that. Most importantly we kept a clean sheet, which is something we are going to try to continue to do, especially in conference play.”

The Panthers move back to .500 on the season at 3-3-2 overall with the win and start Big South play with a 1-0-0 record. UNC Asheville drops to 3-3-1 overall and 0-1-0 in conference play.

High Point took the lead in the 26th minute on redshirt-senior Colscon Wiley‘s first goal of the season. The play started for the Panthers on the right flank when Ramsell released sophomore Avery Ryan behind the Asheville defense. Ryan took a touch then delivered a cross to the near post where Wiley slid in to finish with a high shot into the roof of the net.

HPU maintained its one-goal lead until the 81st minute when the Purple & White scored twice in two minutes to extend its advantage to 3-0. Ramsell scored the first goal and assisted on the second for High Point.

Ramsell scored his first goal of the season on a breakaway after being played through by sophomore Ebe Kudolo. The forward split two defenders and scored with a shot to the lower right corner. Ramsell then assisted freshman Ryeong Choi‘s first collegiate goal, finding him with a square ball at the top of the penalty area for a shot from 18 yards.

The shutout is redshirt-senior Kody Palmer’s fourth of the season and the 20th of his HPU career, tying him with Michael Chesler for the program’s Div. I record. Palmer stopped three shots on the day for the clean sheet.

The Panthers controlled play throughout much of the 90 minutes, outshooting UNC Asheville, 26-7, and putting 14 shots on goal to the Bulldogs’ three. UNC Asheville keeper Zak Davis made 11 saves on the day to limit the damage for Asheville.

High Point returns to action on Friday, Oct. 2, when the team will host Presbyterian College at Vert Stadium. Kickoff for the match is set for 7 p.m. The Panthers earned a 3-0 win at PC last season.