BOX SCORE

The High Point University men's soccer team got a game-tying goal in the 80th minute by sophomore Fejiro Okiomah to send the game against No. 18 Duke to extra time, but the Panthers fell, 2-1, on a goal by the Blue Devils in the 100th minute on Tuesday night in Durham, N.C.

“The team's performance from an effort standpoint was outstanding,” head coach Dustin Fonder said. “This group has a lot of heart and character and that showed tonight. I am disappointed in the final outcome; we wanted to get something out of this game. Duke is a very good team and we are on the road so we will use this as preparation for if we are fortunate enough to make the NCAA tournament.”

Down 1-0 after a goal in the second minute by Duke's Ryan Finley, HPU found itself playing a man down after junior# Karo Okiomah# was shown a red card after a confrontation with a Duke defender in the 71st minute.

High Point continued to press forward after the red card and in the 80th minute senior Scott Rojo found Fejiro Okiomah to tie the game at 1-1. Rojo beat the Duke left back with his dribble and carried the ball down the right flank before crossing to Fejiro Okiomah who ran onto the ball and headed it in from 10-yards out. Rojo's assist was his 10th of the season, extending his conference lead, while the goal was the sixth of the year for the sophomore midfielder.

Despite playing 10-11, High Point continued to find good possession in the final minutes as the HPU centerback tandem of Will Stewart and Todd Ray continually dispossessed the Duke attackers. The Blue Devils had one dangerous chance in the closing seconds, but the shot by Cole Grossman went wide and the game went to extra time tied 1-1.

HPU keeper Michael Chesler kept the Panthers in the game in the first period of extra time, making two great saves to keep the Blue Devils off the board. A shot by Finley forced Chesler to dive low and to his left to punch away a the ball away at the far post in the first minute of extra time. In the sixth minute, Duke's Temi Molinar got in one-on-one with the HPU keeper, but Chesler made himself big and sent the ball away. Chesler finished the game with seven saves.

Duke found the game winner with just seconds left in the first overtime, as Ryan Finley ran onto a cross from the left side and hit it in from point-blank range to give the Blue Devils the win.

The loss breaks a seven-game win streak for HPU, the longest in the team's Division I era. High Point falls to 10-3-1 on the season while Duke improves to 6-3-4.

The Panthers will return to Big South conference play on Saturday, Oct. 23, when they travel to Clinton, S.C., to play Presbyterian College. Kick-off against the Blue Hose is set for 7 p.m.