Junior Hilaire Babou scored the game-winning goal with 7:40 remaining in the match to lead High Point in its conference opener versus first place Gardner-Webb 1-0 at Vert Track and Soccer Stadium.
The goal was set-up when junior Matt Tuttle served a ball from the right wing into the box which found the head of senior Chris Shrum who flicked it across to Babou who found the back of the net. It was Babou's team-leading fourth goal of the season and he has scored in two consecutive games, scoring the first goal in HPU's 2-1 win over NC State earlier in the week. Tuttle also leads the team in assists with four, picking up an assist on both Babou goals this week. Shrum leads the team in points with nine.
"I want to give our guys a lot of credit for playing a gritty game tonight," said head coach Dustin Fonder. "Gardner-Webb is well-coached, well-organized team and made us battle for 90 minutes tonight. This was a great start for us in the conference. To pick up three points against the conference leader is a step in the right direction as we strive to compete in the Big South."
After a feeling out period to start the game, things started to open up for both teams. Gardner-Webb had the first opportunity to take the lead when Adam Augruso took a shot but freshman goalie Michael Chesler made the save. A GW foul on a streaking Shrum just outside the penalty box set-up High Point's initial goal scoring chance. Sophomore Scott Rojo took the free kick which bent just wide of the near post. The Panthers kept the heat on a few minutes later Tuttle hit a volley which the Runnin' Bulldogs goalie Dane Geraci made the save and Rojo followed up the shot hitting the near post. Gardner-Webb set-up another scoring opportunity for HPU, turning the ball over to Shrum who had a one-on-one with the goalie but was denied on a brilliant save.
At the half, the score remained scoreless with High Point holding a slight 7-5 edge in shots, while Gardner-Webb had the only two corner kicks of the first frame. It is also the sixth straight game HPU has not allowed a first half goal.
Shrum and Babou almost connected midway through the second half after Shrum beat the defense on the right flank crossing a ball to Babou. He barely got a toe on it and it went wide.
Runnin' Bulldogs best opportunity came with 20 minutes left in the contest. Jarrett Jackson fired a shot which took a diving Chesler save to keep it from find the back of the net. It was the last real threat GW would have the rest of the contest.
The Panthers almost cracked through minutes later when redshirt freshman Michael Stephenson headed a Tuttle cross to the far right corner, but Geraci was equally up to the task making a diving save of his own. HPU finally got the lone goal of the match on the Babou goal.
Chesler picked up his second shutout of the season and fifth win on the season. He had five total saves, four of which came in the first half. Dane Geraci made six saves while allowing just the one goal for Gardner-Webb. High Point outshot GW 13-7, including a 6-2 edge after the half. The win improves HPU to 5-3-1 on the season and 1-0 in the conference. The five wins equals the win total for last year. Next up for the Panthers is a conference match-up with the defending Big South champion Liberty Flames in Lynchburg, Va., Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.
