Visiting UNC Asheville got a hat trick from Jordan Holthouser en route to a 3-1 win over High Point Wednesday night in the Panthers' Big South Conference men's soccer opener at Albion Millis Stadium.

Holthouser's goals came in the 24th (on a penalty kick), 49th, and 54th minutes of play.

Chris Archer scored for the Panthers off an assist from Blake Roth in the 56th minute.

The Bulldogs improve to 3-2-1 (2-0-0 in Big South play), while the Panthers drop to 3-3-0 (0-1-0).

In the 24th minute, UNCA's Barrett Locke launched a shot that deflected off the hand of a High Point defender. Holthouser converted the ensuing kick to break the ice and give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead that stood up into the second half.

High Point held a 5-4 advantage in shots and a 3-1 edge in shots on goal before halftime.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to 2-0 on Holthouser's second goal of the night, a nifty diagonal shot from the corner of the box into the upper right-hand corner of the net in the 54th minute. Locke and Adam Schwartz assisted on the play.

Holthouser's third goal of the night and fifth of the year came minutes later off a cross from Greg Yelverton.

"We got beat tonight by a very good and well-organized team," High Point head coach Peter Broadley said. "Holthouser had two absolutely tremendous goals, and he's a very legitimate player."

Less than two minutes elapsed before Archer got the Panthers on the board after Roth lured UNCA keeper Michael Pereira out of the net and Archer pushed it through the defense and into an open net to cut the margin to 3-1.

HPU nearly got within 3-2 on Alex Thompson's header in the 75th minute which Pereira just pushed aside. Four of Pereira's seven saves came in the final stanza.

Panther keeper Matt Long made four saves.

UNC Asheville out-shot the Panthers by a slim 16-15 count, while the Panthers held a slight 8-7 edge in shots on goal.

"It's very disappointing to be 3-3 after starting off the way we did and having the opportunity to start off conference play on a good note," Broadley said. "Asheville played very well, but I'm disappointed in our defending against a good team tonight."

The Panthers travel to Statesboro, Ga., this weekend for games against Georgia Southern on Saturday (2:30 pm) and Stetson on Sunday (1:30 pm). The Bulldogs host UNC Wilmington on Sunday (1:00 pm).