High Point jumped ahead 2-0 in the first half and held off a late charge by Radford to earn a hard-fought 3-1 victory on Saturday night from a cool Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium.
The win by the Panthers (4-12, 3-4 Big South) spoiled senior night for the Highlanders (6-9, 3-4 Big South) as six RU seniors played in their final home match.
The Panthers took advantage of Highlander miscues to take the 2-0 lead. In the 16th minute, Megan Fielden, launched a 40-yard free kick into the box that dropped at the six and bounced over RU keeper Tara Oleartchick and into the back of the net for a 1-0 Panther advantage. Laura Eldridge gave HPU its two-goal lead in the 32nd minute, intercepting a Highlander clearance and blasting a 20-yarder past Oleartchick.
Early in the second half, Radford had two solid opportunities to get on the scoreboard. Just four minutes in, Lindsey Pendergraph slipped a ball past HPU keeper Marisa Abbott that scooted just wide right. Three minutes later McKenzie Vergara saw her shot bounce along the crossbar several times before falling out of play.
"This was a big conference road win for us," said HPU head coach Michelle Rayner. "We are looking to build some momentum heading into the final week of our schedule and the Big South Tournament and this was a good way to get started. Tonight was a total team effort on both ends of the field. It was great to see some bounces finally go in our favor. I have been proud of how the team has refused to quit and tonight they earned a much-deserved victory."
Five minutes after Radford's flurry, Traci Andersen intercepted another RU clearance, dribbled into the box and ripped one off the gloves of a diving Radford keeper Anna Yoder for a 3-0 Panther advantage.
The Highlanders ended the Panthers' shutout when Jenna Ramer dribbled through the defense and rifled one to the right of an outstretched Abbott for a goal in the 83rd minute.
Radford out shot High Point, 14-7 and held a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks. Abbott made three saves for the Panthers. Oleartchick and Yoder each played a half for RU with Yoder making one save.
The Panthers will close out their regular season road schedule on Wednesday when they play at North Carolina State at 3 p.m. HPU closes out its regular season slate on Saturday at 6 p.m. versus Coastal Carolina.
