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The High Point University women's soccer team came out on the wrong end of a back-and-forth battle, taking a 3-2 loss to Appalachian State on Sunday at Vert Stadium. Sophomores Kelli Joline and Sammy Vercellino scored for the Panthers.

"Today's game was a good battle, Appalachian State has a really physical and hard-working team," said HPU head coach Marty Beall. "Today, unfortunately, we just weren't able to convert on our chances. I also think that as a coaching staff, we need to do a better job making our players understand what their roles are in the system and on the field. We'll be hard at work doing that this week. We have one more non-conference game before we start Big South play and we have some things we need to fix."

High Point dropped to 2-6-1 on the season while Appalachian State evened its record at 4-4-0.

Appalachian State got out to an early lead on a rebound goal by Julia Holz just 3:24 into the game. Hannah Coad shot the ball off the crossbar and it deflected back out front to Holz, who headed it in for her third goal of the season.

The Panthers tied the game 1-1 on Joline's goal 17:13 into the action. She took a pass from Taber Lewis in front of the net and was able to deflect it just inside the right post past two nearby defenders.

The Mountaineers were back out front less than five minutes later before the Panthers tied it again before halftime. Appalachian State's Katy Dodd scored at 22:26 when she received a long pass down the middle from Nicole Steyl and was able to beat HPU goalkeeper Andrea Ritchie for her second goal of the year.

High Point evened the score at the 26:52 mark on Vercellino's goal. Junior Danielle Schepler passed the ball from the top of the box to Vercellino on the left side and Vercellino was able to get a strong shot over diving Appalachian State goalie Amy Kolowsky and into the far side of the net to make the score 2-2. It was Vercellino's first goal in an HPU uniform.

HPU sophomore Jesse May replaced Ritchie in goal for the second half and the game continued to be fairly even. The shots were tied, 4-4, in the half but Appalachian State was able to get the only tally.

The Mountaineers' Maggie Graham scored the game-winner at 51:41 – her first goal of the year – when she banked in a strong shot from Sydney Hill down low on the right side. The Panthers had a few more scoring opportunities in the game, including a solid shot by Becca Hemby at 57 minutes that Kolowsky saved, but HPU wasn't able to score again.

Ritchie and May each made one save for the Panthers with May absorbing her first loss of the season. Kolowsky made two saves for Appalachian State. The Mountaineers outshot the Panthers, 9-8, in the game.

High Point University is back in action on Friday when it takes on Charlotte on the road at 7 p.m. The Panthers open up their Big South slate against Charleston Southern on Thursday, Sept. 29, at Vert Stadium.