BOX SCORE

The High Point University women's soccer team got goals from three different players en route to a 3-1 victory over Presbyterian College in rainy conditions on Wednesday night at Vert Stadium. The win puts the Panthers at 5-2-1 in league play.

"The weather did play a factor, but thankfully our team hung with Presbyterian," said HPU head coach Marty Beall. "Presbyterian battled very hard throughout the game and tried to play balls over the tops of our backs. So I was very pleased with our backs and our ability to move the ball. I liked a lot of the ideas when we had possession and those ideas led to goal-scoring opportunities."

High Point improved to 7-10-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the Big South while Presbyterian fell to 5-12-1 overall and 2-6-0 in the Big South.

Senior Sara Rager got the Panthers on the board at 10:18 when she hooked a corner kick off Presbyterian College goalkeeper Jordan Broadway and into the back of the net.

High Point University led the shot count, 9-6, in the first half and put four on frame. HPU's first shot came off the foot of Becca Hemby in the third minute, with Broadway making a diving save to her left. Margaret Fanning had a strong bid late in the half with a shot from the left side, but it just missed on the near side. Presbyterian's best chance of the first half was an open shot by Melanie Martin, but HPU goalkeeper Andrea Ritchie deflected it high.

After holding the 1-0 lead into the second half, sophomore Janay Whittaker made it 2-0 when she banked in a free kick by Robin Pecoraro.

The Blue Hose continued to pressure HPU in the second half, getting nine shots off, including three that Ritchie turned away. Presbyterian's Sara Simpson led the charge when she cut the lead to 2-1. Simpson headed in a cross from Ranee Ballew at 67:03 for the Blue Hose' lone goal. In another close bid just before Whittaker's goal, an HPU defender slipped in the mud and Simpson went in for a breakaway. HPU's Danielle Rosado caught Simpson from behind but Simpson was able to get a shot off, with Ritchie making the save.

The Panthers put the game out of reach with the eighth goal of the season by freshman Kelli Joline. Brielle Spencer played a long ball into the box and Joline pressured Broadway. Broadway missed the ball and Joline got behind her and put it in for the score, making it 3-1 at 77:57.

High Point led the shot count, 23-15, and put nine of those on frame. Ritchie and Broadway each made six saves.

The Panthers are back in action on Friday with their final regular season game against UNC Asheville at Vert Stadium at 7 p.m. HPU plays in the Big South Tournament next week, which runs Thursday through Sunday at Radford.