The High Point University women's soccer team used a strong defensive effort in earning a program record tying eighth shutout after posting a 0-0 tie in double overtime against Gardner-Webb in Big South Conference action on Wednesday night at Vert Stadium.
The Panthers outshot their opponents 23-12 en route to holding an opponent scoreless for the second consecutive game. HPU is now 7-4-7 overall on the season and 3-2-3 in Big South play. The decision also marked Gardner-Webb's second straight scoreless tieas the Runnin' Bulldogs move to 4-11-2 and 2-4-2.
High Point junior goalkeeper Marisa Abbott finished the night with three saves in posting her 12th career shutout and school record matching fifth this year. Bulldog netminder Jessica Tuggle tallied four stops in the contest.
An evenly played first period saw both teams with chances to get a score on the board. Just four minutes into the period, GWU's Angie Harvey found herself with an opening at the top of the box and laced a shot that hit the leftside goalpost.
A few minutes later, the Bulldogs appeared to have notched the first score of the contest when Dara Goldstein slid a shot upper-90 over the HPU keeper and just under the crossbar. However, the goal was negated when Goldstein was ruled to have improperly re-entered after leaving the field earlier in the half with an injury.
The Panthers mounted their best scoring chance of the opening frame with just over five minutes remaining when Rachael Parker collected a well-timed drop back pass about 12 yards out and sailed a shot just over the bar.
The two squads went into the break at 0-0 with HPU holding a slight 7-4 shot advantage.
HPU spent much of the second half in their own offensive third, recording a 12-4 margin in shot attempts over the final 45 minutes of regulation. The Panthers narrowly missed several quality scoring opportunties.
About six minutes into the second half, Laura Shupe's chip shot from the left side rolled along the crossbar before falling harmlessly away and then three minutes later Courtney Spotts ripped a shot towards the GWU goal that was mishandled by Tuggle, but she was able to scramble and smother a Panther follow up attempt just outside the goal line.
With just under 11 minutes remaining the period, Sara Rager squared on a well served ball at the six-yard marker but her header went just too high.
Both teams recorded four shot attempts during the two overtime sessions. HPU nearly ended the contest with 1:42 left in the second extra frame as Shupe turned and ripped a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that just sailed wide of the right-hand post.
High Point closes out the regular season on Saturday afternoon against Coastal Carolina at Vert Stadium at 2 p.m. Prior to the game, HPU will honor the five members of its senior class - Carolina Carver, Leslie Long, Renee Hitchcock, Kelly Farrell and Meredyth Heppe. The Panthers will then host this year's Big South Championship Tournament on Nov. 6-9.
