High Point and Liberty played to a spirited 2-2 tie Tuesday night at Albion Millis Stadium in the Panthers' Big South Conference men's soccer opener.

HPU (1-3-1, 0-0-1 Big South) got goals from Lane Miller and Kenzo Tochiki, while Bo Fisher and Darryl Roberts scored for the Flames (3-2-1, 1-0-1).

The Panthers stretched their unbeaten streak against Liberty to four matches, dating back to the 2000 Big South Tournament. The teams battled to a 1-1 draw last season in Lynchburg.

Liberty drew first blood in the 31st minute when Fisher pushed a shot past HPU keeper Chris Michener for his team-best fourth goal of the season. Roberts and David Guinn were credited with assists.

But the Panthers responded with their first opening-half goal of the season less than two minutes later. A Miller header found the net for the second-consecutive game in the 33rd minute to tie things up. Alex Thompson got the assist to tie things up at 1-1.

The game remained deadlocked until the 57th minute, when Tochiki gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead off a free kick from just outside the right corner of the penalty box. It was his first goal of the year.

The Flames were able to get the equalizer in the 78th minute when Roberts scored his third goal of the season from close range off an assist from Brentley Kellum. Liberty continued applying pressure in the second half, but Michener made several diving saves to keep the Panthers in it and force overtime.

In the extra period, the Panthers' Luke Lemanski beat Liberty goalie K.J. Sabotchick with a header off a Tochiki corner kick, but defender Bobby Dabbs literally saved the game for the Flames and headed the ball to safety from just outside the goal line.

Liberty outshot HPU, 23-17, although the Panthers held a 4-3 advantage in overtime shots (and a 4-0 count in the second overtime). Michener tallied eight saves for HPU, while Sabotchick stopped five shots for the Flames.

High Point is scheduled to play Campbell Friday night in Buies Creek and visit UNC Wilmington Sunday afternoon, but the impending arrival of Hurricane Isabel off the North Carolina coast may impact those plans. Visit highpointpanthers.com for the latest information.