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A goal in the 47th minute by freshman Becca Hemby propelled the High Point University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Francis Marion in the team's season-opener on Friday night at Vert Stadium.

“It is exciting that we got our first win and a shutout win at that,” head coach Marty Beall said. “I think we started off very nervous. It was our first game and we had a lot of young players out there. Our youth showed, we need to become a little more experienced and play the way we practice.”

After a scoreless first half, HPU pushed the attack in the opening minutes of the second half, breaking through in the 47th minute after the team drew a foul in the attacking third.

Junior Danniel Rosado sent the resulting free kick into the box towards the far post where senior Jillie Johnston used a header to send the ball back across the face of the goal. Hemby ran onto the ball, heading it in for her first collegiate goal.

“It was amazing to come out here in my first game and score the game winning goal,” Hemby said. “It was a great play. Jillie (Johnston) played a great header ball over to me and luckily I just found a way to connect and score. It felt good and really got the nerves out of me.”

Down one, Francis Marion increased its attack but the Patriots were unable to find an equalizer. Junior goalie Andrea Ritchie made two great saves in the closing 30 minutes to help secure the 1-0 win. FMU's Kiley Williams led the team with three shots, one on goal.

The Panthers controlled the run of play throughout the first half but were unable to find the back of the net. High Point had an early chance to take the lead in just the fourth minute of play when the Patriots' goalie was caught out of position but the shot by freshman Kelli Joline sailed just high. The Panthers outshot Francis Marion 5-2 in the period and earned two corners.

High Point starts the season 1-0-0 while FMU falls to 0-1-0. It was the Panthers' first win in three attempts against the Patriots.

HPU returns to the Vert pitch on Monday, Aug. 23, when the Panthers host Campbell University. In the teams' meeting last season, Campbell pulled out a late 1-0 win in Buies Creek, N.C.