BOX SCORE

A second-half comeback by the High Point University men's soccer team fell just short as the Panthers lost to NC State, 3-2, in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday night. HPU fell behind 3-0 early in the second half before charging back with two late goals.

“I have to give credit to NC State, they took the game to us, had good defensive pressure and when we made a mistake they made us pay,” head coach Dustin Fonder said. “That said I was proud of our guys to keep playing, keep working and show fight to the final whistle.”

Down 3-0, High Point got one back with a penalty kick by Karo Okiomah in 59th minute to bring the score to 3-1. The Panthers drew the penalty off a hand ball in the box on a header by sophomore Shane Malcolm. Senior Scott Rojo was set loose with a give and go down the left side and lofted a cross to the far post where Malcolm ran onto the ball and connected with a header to the far post.

HPU almost pulled to within one just three minutes later but a shot from 18-yards out by freshman Alex Martinez clanged off the crossbar.

The Panthers continued to trim the lead in the 83rd minute when senior Justin Pruetz got on the end of a corner by Rojo and put it in the net at the far post to make the score 3-2. Pruetz jumped to hit the ball off the back of his foot and into the upper 90 away from the keeper.

High Point continued to press forward but was unable to find the third goal to complete the comeback.

In an up and down first half it was the Wolfpack which drew first blood with a goal in just the fifth minute of play. HPU opened the game with a long spell of possession but NC State managed to score against the run of play when Craig Sutherland sent a through ball up the middle and a miscommunication between the backline and goalkeeper allowed Kansaye Mamadou to latch on and score.

The Pack struck first again in the second half, earning a corner off the opening kick-off. The kick went to the back post where Sutherland converted with a diving header just 25 seconds into the half.

The deficit fell to 3-0 when Sutherland again found the back of the net after pouncing on a rebound off a shot by Chris Zuerner and headed it into the net in the 59th minute.

The Panthers open up the regular season on Sept. 1 when they host Elon at Vert Track and Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m. In the season opener against the Phoenix last season, HPU won, 1-0, in Elon, N.C.