BOX SCORE

The High Point University men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to No. 14 North Carolina State on a goal in the 90th minute Wednesday night in Raleigh, N.C. Freshman Shawn Sloan (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) tied the game for the Panthers late with his third goal of the year in the 86th minute but the Wolfpack managed to tally the game winner with just 40 seconds remaining.

"I told the guys after the game that the fight and the competitiveness needed to win an ACC road game or a Big South Championship was there," said head coach Dustin Fonder. "Our competitive drive and spirit was there. We just need to get back on the practice field and clean a few things up. We just need to execute better in the final third and set up better walls in the defensive third. If we fix little things like that, I feel like we have a great shot to win the Big South."

Down 1-0 late, Sloan jumped on a rebound in the box and pounded it past the keeper to tie the game at 1-1. The Panthers earned a free kick just outside the box on the right side and junior Scott Rojo (Houston, Texas/Lee) sent a solid serve into the box to set up the goal.

With the game tied, NC State increased its offensive pressure and received a free kick outside the box with 40 seconds remaining in regulation. The Pack's Alan Sanchez took the kick and sent the ball through the wall and past sophomore goalkeeper Michael Chesler (Highland, Utah/Mountain View) for the game winner.

The Pack broke the scoreless tie in the 74th minute when the NC State's Korede Aiyegbusi found Chris Zuener on a run to the far post and the Wolfpack midfielder one touched the ball past Chesler to the upper 90.

The game was scoreless through the first half as both teams' defense dictated much of the action in opening 45 minutes. The Pack outshot HPU, 6-1, in the first half but managed just two shots on frame. The Panthers held a halftime edge in corners, 2-0. Sophomore Kendall Lawson (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) had the lone shot for High Point sending the ball just wide of the far post from the right side.

Chesler made six saves in the game including one just four minutes before Sloan's goal which kept the Panthers within one. The Highland, Utah native reached up to the top right corner to send away a hard shot from 30-yards out.

High Point returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 27, when they welcome Liberty to Vert Stadium in the team's final home match of the regular season. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m.