Box Score BOX SCORE

Freshman Shawn Sloan (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) scored his second goal of the season in the 106th minute to propel the High Point University men's soccer team to a 2-1 double-overtime win against Presbyterian Friday night at Vert Stadium. The win improves the Panther's record to 7-4-0 overall and 3-1-0 in the Big South.

“We are extremely excited to get three points out of that game,” said head coach Dustin Fonder. “I have to give a lot of credit to Presbyterian for being tough and making us work for those three points. That being said, I really have to tip my hat to our guys because they came in before the second overtime and said they weren't losing the game then went out and figured out a way to win.”

Freshman Fejiro Okiomah (Austin, Texas/Hendrickson-Pflugerville) earned the assist on the overtime tally after beating a defender on the right flank with his dribble then crossing to Sloan in the box. Sloan touched the ball back to his right across a defender before ripping a 10-yard shot which ricocheted off the right post and into the net.

“Sloan's goal was absolutely great,” said Fonder. “It came as the product of Fejiro's hard work, but he got to right spot. Instead of hitting it first-time he was very poised, took an extra touch, picked his spot and tucked it home.”

The first-half of the match was marked by spectacular goalkeeping on both sides as the two teams entered the break tied, 0-0. The Panthers best chance in the opening 45 came in the 15th minute when Okiomah got behind the PC backline and had a one-on-one opportunity against Blue Hose keeper James Neal. Okiomah attempted to hit a hard shot past the approaching Neal but it was kicked away. Neal made three saves in the first half while sophomore Michael Chesler (Highland, Utah/Mountain View) made five stops for HPU.

In the second half, High Point got on the board first with a goal by senior Matt Tuttle (Winston-Salem, N.C./Reynolds). Sophomore Karo Okiomah (Austin, Texas/Hendrickson/Pflugerville) managed to dribble past the last Presbyterian defender before tapping it over to Tuttle who was running with him to the left. Tuttle one-touched a strong shot into the net from 15-yards out to give HPU its first lead of the game.

The score remained 1-0 until late when Presbyterian's Michael Czulinski managed to tie the game with a goal from the top of the box. The ball bounced out to Czulinski as the Panthers were attempting to clear an earlier cross and the sophomore capitalized putting it into the upper right corner for the score.

After a scoreless first overtime period, both teams had opportunities to win the game in the second overtime period. In the 101st minute, Sloan corralled the ball inside the box but his shot ran just wide right. Three minutes later, Presbyterian's Lewis Makin got behind the HPU backline for a one-on-one against Chesler but the sophomore keeper came off his line to close the space and snared a hard shot by Makin to preserve the tie.

In a back-and-forth game, the Panthers outshot the Blue Hose, 19-15, and held a 9-4 advantage on corner kicks. Chesler ended the match with seven saves.

High Point continues its four-game home stand on Wednesday, Oct. 14, when it welcomes Wofford to Vert Stadium for a non-conference match-up. Kick-off for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m.