The High Point University women's soccer team closed out a season-opening stretch that included six of seven games away from home with a hard luck 5-1 loss at Gardner-Webb on Friday night.

The Panthers (0-7-0) fought back from an early deficit before the Bulldogs (6-1-0) were able to convert on a pair of set plays and capitalize on some bad luck for HPU.

"The score tonight was not indicative of how hard or well we played," said HPU head coach Michelle Rayner. "Right now our team just can't seem to catch a break. We deserved better than this outcome. I don't know what else we can do, but I know that this group will keep working and keep battling. Hopefully things will turn in our favor soon."

Samantha Cawkell opened the scoring in the eighth minute of action for Gardner-Webb, when Sarah Keyser took a corner kick and went far post. Cawkell was waiting and pushed it past HPU goalkeeper Marissa Abbott to put GWU up 1-0.
 
The Panthers fought back, applying pressure on GWU's defensive half. At the 17:38 mark, their persistence paid off. Junior Amy Anzovino took a shot, got her own rebound and made sure her second attempt wouldn't miss, tying the score at one apiece with her first goal of the year.
 
The teams remained tied for the next 17 minutes of play, before Cawkell scored again. Kasey Gladhill took a corner and went near post. Junior Elicia Morris touched it to Cawkell, who wound up with her second tally of the night, putting the Bulldogs in front for good.
 
In the 40th minute, Cristin Yasinsac took a free kick near the end-line just outside of the box. Yasinsac's kick was a well executed lob to a charging Brianna Whitehouse, who headed it home for a 3-1 advantage the Bulldogs would take into intermission.
 
Gardner-Webb added more offense in the second half when Lindsey Gladhill weaved her way through traffic and slotted a shot from 20 yards out, just over HPU goalkeeper Hannah Nail's head.
 
At the 85:40 mark, Yasinsac booted a long ball to a streaking Franchesca Formagie. Formagie took the pass, turned and went to the lower left corner of the goal, barely getting it by Nail for the final score.
 
Defensively, sophomore Sarah Wyszynski stopped four Panther attempts, playing all 90 minutes. Abbott played 45 minutes recording one save, while Nail played the final half for the Panthers finishing with three saves.

High Point next opens Big South Conference play on Wednesday at 7 p.m., when the Panthers welcome VMI to the Richard Vert Track & Soccer Stadium.