BOX SCORE
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Senior goalkeeper Marisa Abbott (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac) recorded nine saves to break the High Point University Division I career saves record in a 2-1 loss to Charleston Southern Monday afternoon. Abbott has 203 career saves breaking the previous record of 195 held by Cindy Watts (1999-01).

“Marissa has done a steady job for us this year,” said head coach Marty Beall. “She is a hard worker and highly competitive. I am very impressed with her competitiveness and willingness to play through injuries and aches and pains like she does day in and day out. This record that she now holds is a credit to her determination, her persistence and her competitiveness.”

High Point fell behind 2-0 in the first half as the Lady Buccaneers scored with a header by Caitlin Wesnesky in the 16th minute and a shot from 18-yards out to the far post by Marky Boyce, the Big South's leading goal scorer, in the 24th minute.

Both teams came out firing in the opening 45, combining to take 21 shots with 12 on frame. Abbott made six saves in the first half including two diving saves on shots from the right side to the far post.

In the 63rd minute senior Laura Eldridge (Knoxville, Tenn./West) pulled HPU to within one with a header just inside the left post. Sophomore Robin Pecoraro (Port Orange, Fla./Spruce-Creek) received the ball on the left side of the pitch and lofted a well-placed pass into the box to Eldridge who out-leaped the defender and drove the ball into the lower left corner of the net to make the score 2-1. The goal was the first of the season for Eldridge.

The Panthers continued to press forward looking for the tying goal but were unable to get another shot on frame as the Lady Bucs continually tracked back and filled the box to avoid a game-tying goal.

“We have yet to put together 90 minutes of soccer,” said Beall. “That is where we are struggling right now. We had a better second half but a poor first half as supposed to the game against Coastal Carolina when we had a good first half and an average second half. If we want to be serious contenders in this league we must play 90 minutes of soccer.”

With the loss, High Point falls to 2-11-0 on the year and 1-1-0 in the Big South.

The Panthers return to action on Friday at 7 p.m. when they begin a two-game road swing with a game against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Spring, N.C.