High Point freshman Laura Shupe connected on her first career collegiate goal early in the second half of play to lead High Point University to a 1-0 victory over USC Upstate on Sunday afternoon at Vert Track & Soccer Stadium.

Shupe drilled a shot from just outside the 18-yard box into the upper left corner of the net at the 58:53 mark following a well-played drop pass from junior Laura Eldridge. The game-winning score gave HPU their first win of the season as the Panthers improved to 1-1-2 on the year. With the loss, Upstate slipped to 1-2-0.

The Panthers dominated the play holding a 27-4 advantage in shot attempts, including a 13-to-1 barrage in the first half. High Point forced Spartan goalkeeper Brittany Daughtry to tally 13 saves in the game. HPU also held a 6-0 lead in corner kick attempts.

"We had a much better shot percentage today," said HPU head coach Michelle Rayner. "I was very proud of our overall team effort in the game. We were more aggressive on the offensive end, but need to continue to get better in the final third. However, we were much better in that phase of the game today. Hopefully we can carry this momentum with us as we turn our attention to our upcoming month-long road stretch."

Freshman goalkeeper Andrea Ritchie (pictured) picked up her first victory between the pipes (1-0-2) on Sunday after recording her second consecutive shutout. The Panther defense held USC Upstate to just four shots for the contest with Ritchie stopping three shots on goal.

Twelve different HPU players posted a shot attempt against the Spartans with eight players tallying multiple shots led by Eldridge's six shots.

High Point begins a stretch of seven straight road contests on Wednesday when the Panthers visit longtime rival Elon at 7 p.m. HPU will not play a home game in the month of September with their next scheduled home appearance coming on Oct. 4 against Big South foe Winthrop.