High Point University fell to Liberty, 2-1 tonight in men's soccer action at Liberty Soccer Field. The Flames improve to 4-3 in Big South action while HPU drops to 3-2 in conference play.
With strong defensive play in the first half the game went into the intermission scoreless. In the second half, Liberty went on top in the 58th minute on Adrian Bumbut's first goal of the game. Midfielder Jeremiah Kappler found the forward in the middle of the box with a thrown-in which Bumbut turned and put the ball in the back of the net.
Keeping the pressure on, the Flames tried to extend in the 69th minute as defender Osei Telesford headed down a corner kick in the box to Bumbut. The senior sent a shot towards the left upper corner of the net with the keeper off his line. However, Panther forward Josh Windley prevented the ball from going in by heading the ball out of harm's way.
Counter attacking throughout, the Panthers had an opportunity in the 87th minute, only to have Liberty make a team save to preserve its advantage and set up a wild finish.
With less than a minute remaining, Liberty was called for a foul just outside the 18-yard box setting up a free kick. The referee stopped the clock to caution a Flames' player with 25 seconds left. Once play was resumed, High Point's Chris Archer lifted the free kick over the Liberty wall and into the right-upper corner of the net to tie the match at 1-1 and send it to overtime.
"It was a typical hard fought middle of the table conference battle," said head coach Peter Broadley. "We did very well to come back with 20 seconds left on the clock. Archer took a great free kick to get us back in it. IN the overtime we made some mental mistakes that ultimately cost us the game. Not a great a game and not a great result but it was good to see us keep fighting to get back into it. Hope that we can carry it over to the next game but with a better result of course."
With the score tied at 1-1 less than two minutes into overtime, Bumbut picked up a loose ball off the right side of the field and broke past a defender into open space. The forward then launched a blast from just outside the box into the lower left-hand corner of the net for the golden goal and a 2-1 Flames victory.
On the afternoon, Liberty outshot High Point, 21-7. The Flames also held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Due to a solid defensive effort in front of him, goalkeeper Kevin Mahan only had to make one save in the Liberty net on the afternoon. Adam Ross, who made several nice saves in the contest, finished with seven for High Point.
Bumbut led all players with seven shots on the afternoon. Archer led the Panthers with four.
High Point will host its home finale on Saturday when Pfieffer comes to Richard Vert Track and Soccer Stadium. Game time is set for 7 p.m. when the Panthers will honor seniors Archer, Victor Harrison, Christian Morfaw and Mike Tolman.
