BOX SCORE

The High Point University men's soccer team scored early against South Carolina but two second half goals by the Gamecocks propelled USC to a 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon at the Gamecock Classic in Columbia, S.C.

“I thought we performed at a very high level in the first half,” head coach Dustin Fonder said. “We got a goal and probably could have gotten one or two more but when we didn't and we left the game open for South Carolina to come back. We were a bit flat in the second half and they were able to get a goal back on a deflection and then minutes later they got the penalty and shut the door on us.”

The loss drops High Point to 1-4-1 on the season while South Carolina improves to 2-4-1.

The Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in just the 11th minute of play when senior Karo Okiomah struck for his second tally of the season. Junior Shawn Sloan hit a long ball over the top to Okiomah who split the two USC centerbacks with his run. The forward headed the ball down to himself and took one touch before rifling a shot into the net.

High Point continued to press throughout the second half, possessing the ball primarily in its offensive third, but was unable to find a second goal and the game went to halftime with HPU leading, 1-0.

In the second half, South Carolina came out the aggressors and found an equalizer in the 56th minute when a shot from outside the box by Braeden Troyer deflected off an HPU defender and into the net past goalie Michael Chesler who had already committed to the original shot.

The Gamecocks pulled ahead less than two minutes later when junior Todd Ray was called for a foul in the box and USC's Stephen Morrissey converted the resulting penalty kick to make the score 2-1 in the 58th minute. Mike Mangotic drew the foul on a run up the left endline.

South Carolina finished with a 12-6 edge in shots after outshooting the Panthers 6-2 in the second half. Okiomah led HPU with three shots in the game.

Okiomah and Chesler were both named to the 2011 Gamecock Classic All-Tournament team based on their play in the games against Kentucky and South Carolina.

High Point next returns home to play Richmond at Vert Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. HPU leads the all-time series, 2-0, thanks to win in each of the past two seasons over the Spiders. Last season, the Panthers picked up a 4-1 win at home with goals by Karo Okiomah, Ryan Bennett and Fejiro Okiomah.