Coastal Carolina scored a deciding goal in the closing seconds of regulation on Saturday night against High Point to earn a 4-3 win on the Panthers "Senior Night" at Vert Track & Soccer Stadium.
High Point (4-14-0, 3-5-0 Big South) suffered their third consecutive heartbreaking defeat at home after rallying from a two-goal deficit in the final 15 minutes. HPU has allowed the game-winning score in the final minute of play in each of its last three home games. Coastal Carolina closes the regular season with a 12-5-1 overall mark and 6-2-0 in Big South play.
"I didn't think tonight was our best game of soccer," said HPU head coach Michelle Rayner. "However, to fight back from 3-1 down late in the second half says a lot about the character of this team. The seniors have done a tremendous job with their attitudes and leadership not only this season but throughout their careers. We really wanted to send them out with a victory. They deserve better than what is happening to the, but we have to finish the games especially in the final minute. We now have to turn our attention to the tournament and focus on performing and executing in each game."
Senior Reine DeLaat got the Panthers on the board early burying a blast from 25 yards out into the left side of the net just 4:41 into the game. Coastal Carolina evened the score at one when Emma Humphries' shot from the top of the box slipped above the outstretched arms of HPU goalkeeper Hannah Nail at 22:49. Humphries got an open look at the goal after a nice touch pass from Stepheney Gerhardt. The two teams went into halftime tied.
Gerhardt added a goal at 65:29 chipping a shot into the net from the right side of the box to put CCU in front 2-1. Less than four minutes later (69:13), Ashleigh Gunning drew a penalty kick opportunity and beat Nail to the right side for a 3-1 advantage.
DeLaat, one of four HPU players making their final home appearance on Saturday, refused to quit, helping High Point cut the deficit in half at 76:50. DeLaat launched a picture-perfect throw-in from near the right corner and connected with freshman Laura Eldridge, who headed the ball in to make the score, 3-2. Just under 10 minutes later (85:04), Eldridge converted a penalty kick for the equalizer.
The game appeared headed to extra minutes, when Gerhardt settled a loose ball in front of the HPU keeper box and then slipped a pass to Heather Haupt for the game winner with just nine ticks left on the clock.
Nail finished the game with a pair of saves for High Point, while Jaclyn Stoll tallied three saves to earn the win for the Chanticleers.
Saturday's game marked the regular season finale for High Point and also represented the final home game for the Panther's quartet of seniors (DeLaat, Traci Andersen, Jinene Enders and Gaby McLaughlin). HPU next plays on Thursday in the Big South Conference Championship Tournament. High Point finished the regular season tied for sixth with Radford and will be the No. 6 seed in the tournament with a likely opening round game against Liberty.
