HIGH POINT, N.C.— High Point University men's soccer continues one of its best seasons in Division I program history this Wednesday, hosting UNC Asheville at Vert Stadium at 7 p.m. High Point's 8-1 start to 2018 is second only to the 9-0 beginning it had to the 2012 campaign, while the side was recently ranked No. 23 in Monday's 'College Soccer News' top-30 poll, received 18 votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches top-25 poll, and was ranked as high as 47 in the latest NCAA Men's Soccer RPI. 

The Panthers enter the midweek contest a perfect 3-0-0 in conference play, while riding a four-game winning streak over the past two weeks. HPU has yet to yield a goal in its past three matches with Gardner-Webb, Appalachian State and Winthrop, posting 287 consecutive minutes of shutout soccer over that time. After its two shutout wins against the Mountaineers and the Eagles, the club earned its sixth and seventh Big South weekly honors this past Monday, as Ilias Kosmidis received his second Attacking Player of the Week designation of the year, and Keegan Meyer collected his third career Defensive Player of the Week accolade.

UNC Asheville had a difficult September, failing to come out on top during any of its seven games during that month. The Bulldogs most recently pulled off a draw against visiting Furman, after putting away a game-tying goal in the final four minutes, one of just the 10 goals they've scored this season. UNCA is yet to win, or draw, a match in conference play this season, losing 4-2 at home against Longwood and dropping a 2-0 decision against USC Upstate. 
 
High Point (8-1-0, 3-0-0) vs UNC Asheville (1-7-2, 0-2-0)
When: Wednesday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: High Point, N.C. | Vert Stadium
All-Time Series: High Point leads 21-6-2
Last Meeting: Win 3-0, on Sept. 23, 2017 in Asheville, N.C.
Watch: ESPN+ 
Live Stats: SideArm

On the Panthers
• Forward Ilias Kosmidis earned his second Big South Attacking Player of the Week honor this past Monday, after scoring three goals in two games against Appalachian State and Winthrop
• Goalkeeper Keegan Meyer secured his third career Big South Defensive Player of the Week honor, after posting a pair of shutouts against the same two teams. The junior has four clean sheets this year, and is on a run of 287 consecutive minutes of shutout soccer
• The Panthers' 2.11 goals scored per match currently ranks 18th in all of Division I men's soccer, while their .876 goals against average is the top mark in the Big South
• Kosmidis' eight goals and 18 points are both tied for 11th in DI soccer, as the junior has tallied five goals and 11 points in his past four appearances
• HPU has scored in all nine of its games this year, while its nine-game winning streak on the road is tied with No. 1 Wake Forest for the longest active streak in Division I
• Meyer's 17 career clean sheets rank 18th among active D1 players, and fifth among active D1 players with eligibility after 2018
 
On the Bulldogs
• Starting UNCA goalkeeper Dakotah Bainter leads the Big South in saves this year (35), while his .700 save percentage ranks third in the conference
• The Bulldogs did not win a game throughout the entire month of September, with their last victory coming at Wofford back on August 27th
• Freshmen Taylor Durall and Izaiah Vignali are tied for a team lead with two goals and five points apiece, the former scored a game-tying goal against Furman last week, burying a cross into the back of the net in the 87th minute
 
Series Notes:
• Not only has UNC Asheville failed to defeat the Panthers since 2005, but its failed to score a goal against High Point since 2011
• HPU has outscored the Bulldogs 26-1 since 2010, securing a 8-0-1 record against UNCA during that time
• Forward Bana Ganidekam recorded the first multi-goal performance of his career against Asheville last year, scoring two in a 3-0 shutout win
 
Coming Up Next:
• The Panthers celebrate homecoming this Saturday, hosting Longwood at 2 p.m. at Vert Stadium
• HPU has not lost a regular season game to Longwood since 2012, holding a 9-6-2 advantage over the Lancers all-time

#GoHPU