Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point women's soccer team outshot Furman, 10-9, but fell to the Paladins, 2-0, at the Carolina Cup in Columbia, S.C., on Friday evening. Freshman Kelli Joline had four shots in the contest including two on frame.

“We really played well tonight against another quality opponent,” “We are making huge strides forward and created numerous chances tonight. I am very proud of the resiliency of this team they never give up and always fight to the final whistle. This is an exciting time for us as the players are starting to see their progress and begin to believe in themselves and what they are doing.”

High Point controlled play early in the contest and had a shot by Joline and a corner kick before the Paladins scored against the run of play to take a 1-0 advantage in the 14th minute. A long ball was played out of the back by the Paladins and fell behind the HPU defense where Furman's Martha Hall ran onto it and beat High Point keeper Andrea Ritchie for the first score of the game.

The rest of the first half was played primarily in the midfield but it was the Panthers that earned the better opportunities, as senior Rachel Parker and freshman Becca Hemby each put a shot on frame, forcing two saves by the Furman goalie Jessica Smith in the final 20 minutes of the half.

HPU continued their pressure in the second half, putting up four shots in the first five minutes after the break, including a shot by Joline which was saved by Smith.

After the first ten minutes of the second half, the game settled down and was again played in the midfield until Furman found their second goal off a corner kick in the 79th minute. The kick was taken by the Paladins Dee Makris and sent into the box where it bounced around a bit before Caitlin Shelton managed to nudge it over the line to give Furman a 2-0 lead.

HPU pressed forward in the final minutes looking for a score but a shot from inside the box by junior Katie Taber was blocked and shots by Joline and senior Sara Rager were both saved, allowing Furman to maintain the shutout.

The Panthers second game of the Carolina Cup will come on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 12 p.m., when they take on Clemson in Columbia, S.C. The match will be HPU's third against an ACC opponent this season.