Dan Haywood, Brandon Young and Gordon Smith all connected with the back of the net tonight to help HPU earn a 3-3 tie with No. 3 ranked UNC at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Haywood sent his second goal of the season through the pipes in the fifth minute of the game off of an assist from senior Chris Archer. UNC responded in the 18th minute when Corey Ashe set-up Michael Callahan for the equalizing goal.
Carolina took its only lead of the night just before the intermission when Zach Loyd caught the feed from Ashe and Stephen Bickford to give the Tar Heels the 2-1 advantage going into the break.
HPU retook the lead with back-to-back goals scored in the 60th and 61st minutes. Young picked up a loose ball off a deflection and connected from 20 yards out. Smith followed it up just 55 second later with a header that was deflected off of a UNC defender.
Carolina picked up the tie in the 63rd minute when Eddie Abibio corralled the rebound off a 22-yard Michael Harrington shot and scored from five yards out. The assist was Harrington's third of the season.
"I have never been more proud of our team anytime in my nine years at HPU than I am tonight," said HPU head coach Peter Broadley. "The fight, determination and effort we showed tonight to put us in the lead twice against a national powerhouse like Carolina on their home field is nothing short of amazing."
The Tar Heels held the advantage in shots 29-5. Starting in goal for the Panthers was sophomore Adam Ross who had seven saves. Daniel Clark played the final 43 minutes of the game and had four saves. Carolina keeper, Justin Hughes, had one save.
High Point is only the second team to score multiple goals against Carolina this season.
"I really feel that we are starting to come of age," Broadley said. "We are really showing what it takes to be a Division I progam and how to really compete at this level."
The Panthers will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 7 when they host Big South opponent Birmingham-Southern. Game time is set for 3 p.m. at Richard Vert Track and Soccer Stadium.
