College Soccer News Top 30 National Poll

After picking up wins over UNC Greensboro and Longwood last week the High Point University men's soccer team is ranked No. 28 in the nation in the latest College Soccer News National Poll released on Monday. It is the highest HPU has ever been ranked nationally.

“It is very exciting for our team to be recognized in a national poll,” head coach Dustin Fonder said. “Being nationally ranked gives the guys something to be proud of and something to fight to protect. Once you get ranked you don't want to lose that so you go out and work to stay ranked as long as you can. That being said we have bigger goals in sight and this is just one step toward our ultimate goal.”

The Panthers opened the week with a 2-0 win over UNC Greensboro and followed with a 5-1 win over Longwood in the team's Big South Conference opener. High Point is now 6-0-0 on the season and is one of just seven teams nationally with a perfect record through four weeks.

Sophomore Mamadee Nyepon was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week after scoring a goal in each game on his way to a five-point week. The forward scored the game winner against UNCG with a goal midway through the first half then picked up a goal and an assist against Longwood, both with his head. Nyepon currently leads the Big South in both goals scored (6) and points (13).

Seniors Shawn Sloan and Shane Malcolm also enjoyed strong weeks for HPU as Sloan finished with two goals and an assist and Malcolm finished with a goal and two assists. Both players are in the top five in the Big South in points. Sloan is second in the conference with 12 points on three goals and a conference-high six assists and Malcolm is tied for third with 10 points on three goals and four assists.

This is the second time in team history that the Panthers have been ranked nationally by College Soccer News. HPU was previously included in the national rankings on Nov. 8, 2010 when the team was ranked 30th.

High Point continues its current home stand this week with games against Jacksonville and UNC Asheville. The Panthers will play Jacksonville on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. before returning to conference play against UNC Asheville on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.