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• UNC Wilmington scored a goal in each half to earn the 2-0 win.
• High Point and UNC Wilmington each had 10 shots in the game with HPU putting two on frame.
• Senior Mamadee Nyepon led High Point with three shots on the night.

HIGH POINT, N.C. - The High Point University men's soccer team fell in its home opener to UNC Wilmington by a score of 2-0 on Friday night at Vert Stadium. The Panthers had 10 shots in the loss with two on frame.

High Point fell behind in the 28th minute on a goal by Wilmington's Jaime Dell. The midfielder got the ball off a free kick on the right flank and dribbled back towards the middle of the field before hitting a shot from the edge of the penalty area that hit off the left post and into the net.

The Panthers best chance to tie the game came in the 57th minute when senior Mamadee Nyepon was set free on goal by sophomore Renato Punyed. Unfortunately for HPU the forward's touch around the keeper took him too wide for a clean shot. Nyepon was able force an indirect free kick in the box on the play when the UNCW keeper handled a back pass but a defender blocked the resulting shot on the kick.

UNC Wilmington doubled its lead in the 80th minute when Kalvin Kromer scored on a rebound from a shot off the crossbar. The Seahawks broke free on a counter attack as High Point pressed forward looking for an equalizer. Matt Tysinger hit a shot from the right side of the penalty area that clanged off the crossbar and fell to the feet of Kromer who beat HPU keeper Kody Palmer with a shot to the left side of the goal.

The Panthers and Seahawks each finished the night with 10 shots while Wilmington had a 5-2 edge in shots on goal. Nyepon led the Panthers with three shots including one on goal while Punyed finished with two shots and one on frame. Palmer made three saves in the loss for HPU.

High Point opens the season with an 0-1-0 record following the loss to UNC Wilmington which start 2014 at 1-0-0.

The Panthers return to action in one week when they head to Dayton, Ohio to play in the Dayton Flyers Classic. High Point will take on host Dayton on Friday, Sept. 5, and Northern Kentucky on Sunday, Sept. 7.

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