HPU MSOC : HPU 3, GWU 0 – Abril’s Brace Pushes Panthers to Win Over Gardner-Webb

Site: Boiling Springs, N.C.
Score: High Point 3, Gardner Webb 0
Records: High Point (3-4-1) (1-0-1), Gardner Webb (2-8) (1-1)

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The High Point University men’s soccer defeated Gardner-Webb 3-0 on Saturday night (Oct. 2) in Boiling Springs. Alex Abril exploded for two goals in the first half to push HPU past the Runnin’ Bulldogs for the Purple & White’s first Big South road win of the year. MD Myers added the third Panther goal early in the second half to give the Panthers a 3-0 advantage.

Zach Haines: I loved our intensity and work rate particularly in the first half. I’m pleased for all of the guys. They brought such a good mentality to this game. A clean sheet and some of our attacking players scoring and setting up quality goals was a byproduct of our approach. We want to keep the momentum going into Wednesday at home vs Upstate.

Panther Particulars

HPU was on the attack early Myers made a strong defensive play and intercepted a pass and turned it into an opportunity as his shot was stopped point-blank by the GWU Keeper.

Mason Marcey fired a shot in the 8th minute in a one-on-one opportunity.

High Point struck first as in the 12th minute, Myers intercepted a pass in the back and slotted it to Abril who was able to tuck it away near post with his left foot to put HPU up 1-0 in the early going.

23 minutes in HPU was out shooting GWU eight to three with six of the eight shots being on goal as High Point kept the pressure on even with a 1-0 lead.

In the 25th minute there was a good sequence from David Greene and Sebastian Chalbaud results in a pair of shots for Myers that were saved by Gardner Webb as HPU still searched for a second goal.

That second goal came minutes later in the 31st as Abril nodded in a header from 10 yds out, Caco Fernandez’s curling cross got the assist in what was an excellent goal from High Point. It was Abril’s second goal in the half as HPU jumped out to a 2-0 lead to start the game.

HPU nearly added a third later in the first half in the 35th minute as Davis Biggerstaff intercepted a pass and played it to Ashton Perkins who smashed it just wide.

The Panthers took a 2-0 lead into the half on the road.

HPU opened the second half hot scoring in the 48th minute as the Panther found their third Chalbaud smashed a free-kick from 35 out, forced a save by the Gardner Webb keeper Rios and Myers poked it home from the doorstep. That marked the third goal of the year Myers.

Play started to get more physical as the game moved along Gardner Webb showed a full effort down the stretch. In the last 20 minutes of the game, Holden Trent recorded a hand full of saves to keep the clean sheet intact and hold the Runnin’ Bulldogs off of the board.

HPU held strong and picked up a 3-0 road win against GWU. HPU is now 1-0-1 in Big South play.

UP NEXT: HPU will host the Spartans of USC Upstate at Vert Stadium on Wednesday, October 6th. The kickoff is set for 7 p.m.