BOX SCORE

The High Point University men's soccer team fell behind 1-0 on a goal just before the half but scored twice in the second half to pull out a 2-1 win over UNC Asheville Saturday afternoon in Asheville, N.C. Senior Matt Tuttle (Winston-Salem, N.C./Reynolds) and freshman Fejiro Okiomah (Austin, Texas/Hendrickson-Pflugerville) each scored for the Panthers in the second half.

“We are excited to get a win over a very hard working and industrious UNC Asheville team," said head coach Dustin Fonder. “We are even more pleased it is our second road win in the Big South. I thought we really stressed possession and movement off the ball this week and in the first half we possessed better than we have all season. We still have to get better putting together two halves. But at the end of the day we didn't possess as well in the second half but found two goals to win.”

Despite outshooting the Bulldogs 11-1 in the first half, High Point went into the locker room down 1-0 after UNC Asheville's David Parra scored in the 45th minute against the run of play. The Panthers had eight corner kicks to none for the Bulldogs in the first 45 and forced the UNC Asheville goalie to make four saves.

Tuttle tied the game at 1-1 in the 53rd minute on a free kick from just outside the box under the wall to the lower right corner of the goal. Sophomore Kendall Lawson (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown)earned the free kick with a strong run from the left side to the center of the pitch. The goal was Tuttle's second in as many games.

In the 73rd minute, Okiomah gave High Point a 2-1 lead with a goal from just in front of the net. Junior Scott Rojo (Houston, Texas/Lee) sent a solid pass into the box which senior Ryan Puppolo (Heidelberg, Germany/Heidelberg) shot on frame. The shot was saved but the rebound came out to Okiomah who finished for his fourth goal of the season. 

In the 90th minute the Bulldogs earned a free kick on the left side just outside the box but sophomore Michael Chesler (Highland, Utah/Mountain View) made a diving stop to preserve the 2-1 lead.

The Panthers return to Vert Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 7 when they welcome defending Big South regular season and tournament champion Winthrop. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.