High Point got two early goals and a pair of scores from junior Beckie Lesh en route to earning a 5-2 victory over VMI in their Big South Conference opener on Wednesday night at Richard Vert Track & Soccer Stadium.

The Panthers (1-7-0, 1-0-0 Big South) notched their first win of the season behind a strong offensive performance which saw HPU double their season goal total in the first half. With the loss, the Keydets fall to 3-3-0 overall and 0-1-0 in conference play.

"It feels excellent to get our first win," said HPU head coach Michelle Rayner. "We played a tough pre-conference schedule to prepare us to be successful against Big South opponents. I was proud of our execution, especially in the first half. We did a good job of finishing on some really good scoring chances. It still wasn't a complete game, but it is something we can definitely build on."

High Point, who has allowed an opponent goal in the opening 10 minutes of five games this year, turned the table tonight against VMI as HPU tickled the nets for a pair of scores in the first 10 minutes.

Sophomore Leslie Long got the Panthers on the board first, one-timing a cross from the right side by Traci Andersen past VMI starting keeper Jessica Rheinlander at the 7:35 mark. The goal was Long's first of the year and it was also Andersen's first assist.

Just over two minutes later (9:48), freshman Laura Eldridge headed a ball past Rheinlander off a throw-in from the corner by Reine DeLaat to put HPU ahead, 2-0. It marked Eldridge's second goal of the season and DeLaat's second helper.

At the 13:05 mark, Lesh tallied the first of her career-best two goals when she corralled the rebound of her own shot and pushed it past Rheinlander. Lesh scored again in the 34th minute (33:53) blasting a direct free kick into the upper right hand corner of the net from the top of the box. The pair of goals gave her a team-leading three for the season.

The Keydets cut into their deficit early in the second half as Karen Bill converted a penalty kick opportunity at the 51:05 mark. It was Bill's sixth goal of the season and the fourth penalty kick that HPU has surrendered this year.

VMI pulled to within two at 4-2 in the 66th minute (65:59) when Jessica Robbins pushed a low cross from Audrey Falconi past Panther back-up goalkeeper Marisa Abbott.

High Point answered quickly, scoring just thirty seconds later (66:29) when Lauren Stockell fed Megan Fielden on the left side of the box. Feilden slotted the ball past VMI reserve keeper Kathleen Underwood for the game's final score.

High Point starting goalkeeper Hannah Nail earned the victory (1-4-0) pitching a shutout over the opening 45 minutes while recording three saves. Abbott finished with a pair of saves in the second half. Rheinlander took the loss for VMI surrendering three goals in just over 18 minutes of action.

The Panthers continue Big South action this weekend when they travel to Birmingham-Southern for a battle against the league's other Panthers on Saturday at 7 p.m.