The High Point University men's soccer team lost a hard fought, 3-2 battle on Saturday against Atlantic Sun foe Campbell. HPU concluded the regular season and will begin Big South Tournament play on Thursday, Nov. 15.

Campbell (11-5-2) took the lead twice only to see the Panthers (5-13-1) equalize each time before Jason Keever struck his second game-winner and third score overall of the season.  Campbell improved to 5-0-1 in its last six games against the Panthers and won their second in a row against their in-state rival.

Vince Petrasso set up Richard Jata's 13th minute goal; then scored in the 38th for the Camels, who led 2-1 at the half.  High Point suffered its fifth-straight loss heading into next week's Big South Conference tournament.

Campbell jumped in front in the 13th minute when Pat Danford kept a ball alive in the box and Petrasso squared across to Jata, who chipped the ball over keeper Adam Ross and into the net for his sixth goal of the year.

Camel keeper Aaron Johnson kept the lead in tact in the 17th minute.  Johnson dove to his right to stop Justin Willis' right-footed effort from the edge of the box through traffic.  The junior then again dove to stop Hilaire Babou on the rebound before Stephen Oyuga cleared the ball from danger.

The Panthers drew even in the 25th minute.  Josh Windley lofted a ball into the box, but Michael Hutchison's header fell to the feet of Chris Shrum, whose one-timer beat Johnson for his sixth strike of the season.

Campbell went back in front just after 37 minutes.  Ryan Freeborn dribbled down the left flank; then sent a sharp left-footed serve into the box, which was cleared to Petrasso.  The sophomore from Ontario connected on a right-footed shot from just inside the box for his first strike of the season.

HPU nearly equalized with six minutes remaining in the half when Shrum's right-footed effort glanced off the cross bar.

The Panthers drew level in the 49th minute when Michael Saryee stole the the ball from Jata in the Campbell end and dribbled into the box, where he lifted the ball above Johnson for his second goal of the season.  Just over two minutes later, Shrum had a free header at the back post that he nodded wide left.

At 51 minutes, Matt Tuttle's right footed shot beat Johnson, but bounced off the junction of the crossbar and the right post.

With 36 minutes to play, Shrum's flick sent Tuttle in free, but the High Point forward's left-footed shot was covered by Johnson.

Petrasso's return pass found Justin Madrid alone in the box, but Ross dove to his right to stop the Camel midfielder's attempt after 57 minutes.

In the 68th minute, Madrid sent a ball down the right flank.  Keever out-raced HPU defender Ryan Puppolo to the ball near the end line, cut back into the box, then beat Ross with a left-footed shot inside the near post.

Jata nearly iced the game when his left-footed free kick slid just over the bar with seven minutes to play.

High Point enters the Big South Tournament as the #6 seed and is set to face #3 host team Winthrop in the opening round 7:00 p.m.