Box Score BOX SCORE

A first-half goal by freshman Janay Whittaker (Stone Mountain, Ga./Peideia) was all that the High Point University women's soccer team would need in a 1-0 win over VMI on Senior Night at Vert Stadium Saturday night. With the win, the Panthers improve to 3-13-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the Big South.

“This is a critical three points that we desperately needed,” said head coach Marty Beall. “I am very proud of our girls for coming in and rising to the occasion. We talked about the importance of this game beforehand and for them to take that pressure and to respond in the right way is big time for this program this season.”

Whittaker put HPU up 1-0 in the 45th minute with the first score of her collegiate career. The Stone Mountain, Ga., native jumped on the rebound off a shot by freshman Kim Grennan (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista) and hammered it home with just 46 second left in the first half.

High Point controlled the run of play throughout the game, playing mostly in the offensive third. The Panthers took a season-high 22 shots in the game while holding the Keydets to just five.

“We continue to work on better, more dangerous attacks and each time we work on it they are getting better and better,” said Beall. “I think we are starting to peak at the right time of the year and hopefully as we continue to create these great scoring chances we can possibly put a few more away.”

Senior Marisa Abbott (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac) made just three saves in the game to earn her fourth shutout of the season and the 16th of her High Point career. Abbott and the HPU defense have allowed just 0.80 goals per game in six conference matches including three shutouts.

The Panthers return to Vert on Monday, Oct. 26, for a conference matchup against Radford. The game will kickoff at 7 p.m., and will be HPU's final home game of the season.