Senior forward Chris Shrum assisted on the game-tying goal in the 75th minute by freshman Karo Okiomah and later netted the game-winning goal to lead High Point to a 2-1 win over Radford in Big South play.
The game started out very sluggish as both teams did not want to create a mistake in an important Big South match-up. Chances were very limited in the first half as the only two good opportunities were for the Panthers. In the 20th minute, Shurm forced a Radford turnover, beat a defender and fired a shot from 20 yards out which Highlander keeper Ryan Taylor made a nice save on. With five minutes remaining in the first half, Okiomah tried slipping a streaking Kendall Lawson into the box, but Taylor come off his line to gather the pass.
Both teams were able to regroup at the half and the play in the second half flowed much better providing several scoring chances including the three goals scored. HPU almost cracked through in the 52nd minute when Hilaire Babou fired a low shot which Taylor denied. Okiomah made an attempt for the rebound with an open net, but was beat to the ball by a RU defender.
Radford had the next chance when Iyiola Awosika beat the Panther defense and hit a shot to the lower near post which freshman goalie Michael Chesler made a good save on. Awosika would come through for the Highlanders minutes later. HPU took a corner kick, which was cleared quickly and started a counter-attack for RU. Awosika had a given-and-go with Joe Baxter and hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced down across the line for a 1-0 lead for the Highlanders. It was his team leading sixth goal of the year.
High Point kept on battling and nearly netted the equalizer when Scott Rojo knocked a corner kick that found the head of Ryan Puppolo who hit the crossbar. On the rebound, Will Stewart's header also hit the crossbar, thus denying the Panthers. The Panthers would snap a scoreless streak of over 193 minutes when Shrum flicked a long ball which Okiomah ran onto. He beat a defender in the box and hit a laser off the far left post and rattled home the game-tying goal. It was Okioman's first goal since returning from an injury in the previous contest.
Shrum provided the game-winner eight minutes later with Rojo served a corner and Shrum had a diving header for the game-winning goal. Shrum now leads the team in goals (5), assists (5) and points (15). Those totals are good for sixth, tied for first and third best respectively, in the Big South.
"Tonight was your typical Big South game, two teams fighting hard for an important three points," said head coach Dustin Fonder. "I don't think either team played their best game, but both groups were very intense all game long. We were fortunate to work hard, make our own luck and get on the end of one more goal than they did. We have two straight important Big South games on the road and our boys need to focus hard in training."
The win improves High Point to 6-5-1 on the season and 2-1 in the Big South. The six points puts them in a tie for third place along with Coastal Carolina and UNC Asheville. Gardner-Webb is currently in first place with a 4-1 record, the Panthers giving them their only blemish in Big South Play. HPU travels to Conway, S.C. to take on Coastal Carolina on Sunday at Coastal Carolina Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
