The High Point University women's soccer team continued their strong play on Wednesday night handing the Big South Conference leading UNC Asheville Bulldogs a 2-0 loss at Albion Millis Stadium.
With the win, the Panthers improve to 10-5-1 overall and 5-2-0 in Big South Conference play and keep open their opportunity to earn a share of the regular season championship on Saturday. UNC Asheville slips to 10-5-0 and finish their league regular season slate with a 6-2 mark.
Junior Traci Andersen, High Point's leading scorer, got the Panthers on the board first recording her 10th goal of the season at the 15:04 mark. Ryan Hays' corner kick was touched passed by Kelly Farrell to Andersen, who pushed the ball past UNCA keeper Michaelle Mattos from about four yards out.
The Panthers picked up an insurance score later in the first half as sophomore Karolina Straby collected a deflected shot by teammate Leslie Long in front of the net and deposited it in the right side of the goal at 27:21.
"I am extremely proud of this team," said HPU first-year head coach Michelle Rayner. "We did an outstanding job of finishing some early scoring opportunities and then were able to play enough defense down the stretch to beat a very good UNC Asheville team. Erica Brockmyer played a fantastic game in goal for us tonight. It was by far her best performance and it couldn't have come at a better time. This is a big win for us, but we still have some work to do in order to accomplish one of our goals for the season."
After grabbing the lead in the first half, High Point turned to their defense in the second frame as UNCA turned up the play in their offensive end. The Bulldogs earned a 9-1 edge in shot attempts in the closing half with freshman Robyn Busha doing much of the damage tallying several of her 11 tries in the stretch.
HPU goalkeeper Erica Brockmyer recorded four saves including a pair of key stops of Busha headers off corner kicks in the closing period to help ice the victory. High Point also benefited from a pair of saves by defenders in front of the net to earn the team's seventh shutout this season.
For the game, UNCA outshot HPU, 15-6, including a 6-4 edge in shots on goal. Busha led all players with five shots on goal. The Bulldogs also earned a slight 6-4 advantage in corner kicks. Mattos finished with two saves for UNCA while Brockmyer recorded her fifth shutout this year.
High Point concludes its regular season schedule at home on Saturday at 6 p.m. against Birmingham-Southern. A win would give HPU a share of the Big South regular season title. Prior to the game, High Point seniors Wendy Williams, Ryan Hays and Courtney Noel will be recognized during a special presentation.
