BOX SCORE

Senior Scott Rojo had a goal and three assists to help High Point University's men's soccer team to a 4-1 win over Longwood in the Panthers' regular-season finale on Saturday night in Farmville, Va. Four different players scored for HPU which finished 14-3-1 on the season.

“I am extremely pleased to go on the road and get a victory over a well-coached Longwood team,” head coach Dustin Fonder said. “This was our final tune up before the Big South Tournament so I was impressed that our first team got us out to a 3-0 lead at halftime. I was also happy that we were able to use a good number of players today to continue to add to our depth.”

Rojo opened the game with his fourth goal of the season in just the fifth minute of play. The forward took a pass from sophomore Shane Malcolm on the right flank and beat the keeper from eight-yards out with one touch to put High Point up, 1-0.

The Panthers doubled their lead in the 12th minute as sophomore Shawn Sloan found the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season. Sloan received a pass from Rojo at the edge of the box and dribbled into the area before beating the keeper with a shot from seven-yards out.

High Point continued to increase its lead in the 28th minute as sophomore Fejiro Okiomah scored his seventh goal in six games to put HPU up, 3-0. Okiomah received a through ball from Rojo at the top of the 18 and beat the keeper one-on-one with a shot to the far corner of the net for his 11th goal of the season. Okiomah is now tied with his brother, junior Karo Okiomah for the team lead in goals.

After Longwood broke through for a goal in the 72nd minute, scoring off a deflection in the box, freshman Alex Martinez connected for his first collegiate goal to give HPU a 4-1 lead. Rojo found Martinez at the edge of the penalty area where the freshman put up a shot to the right corner for the score.

“Today was a great game to come out and have some fun in,” Rojo said. “This was our final game before the Big South Tournament so we wanted to come out and play it like a conference game. All the guys were very unselfish today and it allowed us to jump out to the lead. Today really helped us prepare for the battles we know we will face next week.”

Rojo tied his season high with three assists and five points in the game. The senior, who entered the week tied for the national lead in assists, now has 16 assists on the season which is an all-time HPU single-season record.

“I am very proud of Scott,” head coach Dustin Fonder said. “He has really matured as a team leader this season as a senior. For him to continue to break various records is a great achievement for him individually and for our program.”

With the win, High Point improves to 14-3-1 on the season. The Panthers are just the seventh team in the nation to reach 14 wins this season. With the loss, Longwood falls to 2-12-4 on the season.

HPU will return home to host the 2010 Big South Men's Soccer Championship starting on Thursday, Nov. 11. High Point is the No. 1 seed in the tournament after finishing a perfect 8-0-0 in Big South contests and will face No. 8 UNC Asheville at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers beat UNCA, 3-0, earlier this season in Vert Stadium.