HPU MSOC Rolls Past Asheville, 3-0, to Start Big South Play

• Redshirt-sophomore Bana Ganidekam scored his first two goals of the season to lead the Panthers to their highest scoring output of the season.
• Sophomore Ryan Inman added his own goal in the 80th minute, his first this season and third in his career.
• Redshirt-sophomore Keegan Meyer made four saves for his seventh career shutout and second of 2017.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Redshirt-sophomore Bana Ganidekam recorded his first career multi-goal game as the High Point University men’s soccer team soared past UNC Asheville, 3-0, to open Big South competition on Saturday night at Greenwood Field.

“This was a great way to start Big South play tonight,” head coach EJ O’Keeffe said. “The guys implemented the game plan well and we came out with three points and a shutout. Asheville is a well-coached group that can punish you if you’re not tuned in for 90 minutes. It was our most complete performance of the year. We will use that as a starting point and continue to get better through conference play.”

For the third time in four years, the Panthers (3-3-2, 1-0-0) were triumphant in the Big South opener, all via 3-0 victories over UNC Asheville.

Sophomore Jonathan Bolanos spurred High Point’s attack early on, registering a pair of shots in the game’s first 20 minutes. Neither team was able to gain much traction offensively in the first half, though, with the Panthers holding a slim 4-3 edge in shots before halftime.

Following halftime, High Point’s offense took off to the tune of three goals. Ganidekam started the outburst in the 53rd minute with his first goal of the year. The native of Ghana worked up the left side and was able to skip it off the Asheville goalkeeper and in the net for a 1-0 lead.

Sophomore Keegan Meyer was called upon to keep the game in HPU’s favor a minute after the tally, as he made his second save of the match. He ended up with four stops on the evening, earning his second shutout of the year and seventh in his career. Across 195 minutes in net the last two games, Meyer allowed just one goal while facing 12 shots on net.

The Panthers pulled away late, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes. Sophomore Ryan Inman netted his first goal of the year in the 80th minute off a free kick. From just outside the 18′ box, Inman went right side to double the HPU advantage.

Ganidekam added the exclamation point in the 89th minute when he ripped a shot left side from approximately 25′ out to push High Point in front, 3-0. It marked the first multi-goal game for a Panther this season and first since Chris Ramsell scored a pair of goals against the Bulldogs in last season’s matchup.

High Point finished the match with a 12-11 edge in shots and a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal. UNC Asheville was awarded seven corner kicks to High Point’s four.

The Purple & White will take a week off from action before stepping out of conference next Saturday, Sep. 30, by traveling to Appalachian State. Kickoff from Boone, N.C. is scheduled for 7 p.m.