Site: Davidson, N.C. (Alumni Stadium)
Score: #24 High Point 1, Davidson 3
Records: #24 High Point (0-1), Davidson (1-0)
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men’s soccer team (0-1) fell to Davidson 3-1 on the road in its season opener on Thursday night (Aug. 26). Ashton Perkins scored the lone Panther goal in the contest. HPU has a chance to bounce back quickly as it hosts #25 Coastal Carolina for a Sunday night clash.
Panther Particulars
The shots came quickly for both sides to start the contest. HPU opened the game with a flurry of chances, one of the best Panther chances of the night came off of the foot of Alex Abril who had his shot come crashing off of the crossbar keeping the game locked at 0.
HPU went on to outshoot Davidson six to four in the first half, but the Wildcats grabbed a goal late in the first half to take a narrow 1-0 lead into the break.
High Point came out strong to start the half, searching for the equalizer. HPU made some big plays defensively to keep the game a one goal difference.
With 20 minutes to play, HPU was spending a majority of the half with the ball and on the Wildcat end. The Panthers created three corner kick opportunities one after the other, Davidson was able to neutralize the Panther chances.
In the 73rd minute, Davidson found its second goal of the night to take a two-goal lead.
Following the goal, in the 75th minute, MD Myers fired one from 30 yards out that came crashing off of the crossbar as the Panthers almost connected with what would have been a Wildcat lead splitting goal.
Ten minutes later, in the 82nd minute, Perkins finished a ball that bounced off of the Wildcat keeper after being shot by Myers. Perkins recorded the first goal of the young Panther season.
After the goal, it felt as if the tide had changed however the Wildcats were able to keep their momentum going and found a third goal in the 85th minute.
UP NEXT: Vert Stadium plays host to a showdown between two ranked opponents as #24 HPU hosts #25 Coastal Carolina on August 29th.