High Point senior forward Amy Anzovino scored a pair of goals in leading HPU to a 2-0 win over in-state rival UNC Asheville on Wednesday night in Big South Conference women's soccer action at Vert Stadium.
With the win, the Panthers upped their season record to 8-5-2 and 4-1 in the Big South. High Point finished the regular season undefeated at home with a 5-0-2 record this year and earned their fourth consecutive win. Asheville slipped to 2-12-0 overall and 0-5-0 in league play.
"I've got to give a lot of credit to our entire team for staying focused despite the challenging weather conditions," said HPU head coach Michelle Rayner. "This was a great win for our team and one that was especially rewarding for our seniors. It was important for us to get a positive result against a talented UNC Asheville team. It is a tremendous accomplishment for us to have finished the season unbeaten at home. Hopefully we can continue to build on this momentum when we play our final regular season games on the road."
Anzovino, who along with seven other Panther seniors were honored during a pregame ceremony, got things going early on "Senior Night" for High Point by finding the back of the net in the seventh minute of play (6:53). Redshirt junior Leslie Long took the second of HPU's eight corner kicks and found a waiting Anzovino at the near post where she headed the ball past UNCA goalkeeper Veronica Lazar for what proved to be the game winner.
Both teams had chances later in the opening half but neither was able to capitalize as HPU took a slim 1-0 lead into the halftime break. The two squads returned to the pitch in the second half and were immediately greeted by a heavy downpour of rain that continued for much of the second half.
With players sliding around the field and the ball constantly slowed by puddles, the two squads settled into waiting game with each group looking to capitalize on a lucky break. High Point continued to be aggressive on offense out-shooting the Bulldogs 10-5 in the final half en route to a 16-7 edge for the game.
Anzovino added the insurance goal for the Panthers in the 55th minute (54:29) as she again finished off an HPU corner kick opportunity. Fellow senior Karolina Straby lofted a corner towards the six-yard box where Asheville's Lazar stepped out to make a play but the wet ball slipped through her hands allowing Anzovino to tap the loose ball into the open net. The goals were the first two of the season for the senior who ranks among the program's career leaders in goals.
HPU senior goalkeeper Hannah Nail made the 2-0 lead stand up tallying a pair of saves in recording the fifth shutout of her career and the sixth of the season for the Panthers. Lazar finished with six saves for Asheville in the loss.
High Point will now play its final three regular season games on the road in the state of South Carolina beginning on Sunday at 1 p.m., in Clinton against future Big South opponent Presbyterian.
