Adrian Bumbut recorded a hat trick on Wednesday night as Liberty defeated High Point, 3-1 in Big South Conference action on senior night at Richard A. Vert Track and Soccer Stadium.
The Flames (9-4-2, 4-1-0 Big South) got on the board early as Bumbut scored his first goal with just 1:36 off the clock when he broke away from the HPU defenders at center field and took the ball all the way into the box for an uncontested goal and his ninth of the season.
High Point (5-11-1, 1-4-0 Big South) responded in the 14th minute when freshman Michael Saryee went around a pair of Liberty defenders and took the ball straight up the middle and connected for his first goal of the season and the first of his career. The two teams would enter the game knotted 1-1.
Both teams were strong defensively coming out in the second half with neither team getting a good look at the goal until the 59th minute when Justin Willoughby set up Bumbut for his second score of the night. Willoughby passed the ball from the right side in to Bumbut directly in front of the goal to give the Flames the 2-1 advantage.
Liberty gave the Panthers no time to respond as Bumbut again found the back of the net just over a minute later (60:07). Bumbut battled around a pair of High Point defenders in front of the goal before sending the ball sailing in to the upper left corner just out of reach of the HPU keeper.
The Panthers would have the opportunity to pull to within one in the 81st minute but LU goalkeeper Paul Gilbert was there to stifle the shot from High Point senior Cole Atkins. It was Gilbert's fourth save of the night.
Liberty outshot High Point 14-8, but the two teams were evenly matched in shots on goal with five each. Corey Whisenhunt had two saves for the Panthers.
Tonight's game marked the final home contest of the season. Atkins along with Harry Wilkes, Gordon Smith and this year's team captain Josh Windley were all honored as seniors at the start of the game.
The Panthers will be back on the field on Saturday, Nov. 3 when they travel to Lexington, Va. to face VMI. Game time is set for 11:00 a.m.
