HIGH POINT, N.C. - Facing its last test before the start of the regular season next Friday, High Point University men's soccer put away visiting Queens University of Charlotte 4-1 to close out their final fall preseason match. Senior starting forward Ilias Kosmidis hit the back of the net twice to help give the home team the victory, while newcomer Jordan Lonchar recorded a three point night with a goal and an assist. With the win this Saturday, the Panthers finish a perfect 2-0 in the preseason with victories over Georgia Southern and Queens, holding a total goal differential of 6-1. 

"We're making good progress and tonight was another good step in the right direction," said Head Coach Zach Haines in postgame. "We learned some things after the Georgia Southern game... We felt like we had a really good week of training to cover some areas that we had not covered and also address some things that we saw in the game against Georgia Southern. I feel like we did a really great job tonight of putting those things into practice and applying them. We definitely saw a lot of improvement, so we feel good about tonight. We played everyone that was available once again and got them some valuable minutes, and saw some different combinations and relationships with some different guys in different spots. I think so far as a second preseason game goes, it was a success, and I feel like we are headed in the right direction in terms of being ready for our Friday night opener versus William & Mary."

The Panther offense got moving in a hurry, setting the tone for the Saturday night matchup in the opening six minutes. Picking up the ball in the attacking half, defender Nick Phipps made an impressive run up the middle before laying the ball off to an awaiting Lonchar just a few feet inside the 18. The Sheffield product was stopped by the Queens goalkeeper in his initial attempt, but wouldn't be denied on the rebound, as he tucked away the first goal of the night inside the left post. 

The Royals would have their own chances at an equalizer just a few moments later, but starting Panthers keeper Keegan Meyer would be up to task while facing the visitors' efforts. With Queens' first attempt blocked by the HPU defense, Meyer went on to make back-to-back saves on the ensuing rebounds, before finishing the first half with three stops in all.

With Queens failing on their own opportunities, Kosmidis doubled his team's lead in the 18th minute for his first goal of the preseason. The forward received a long ball near the top of the 18, before cutting back twice for an open shot at goal. The senior buried his first chance to finish on the night with power, delivering a strike across the face of the keeper into the bottom left corner.

Carrying a 2-0 lead into the second, High Point delivered another quick tally to start off the half as Alex Abril tallied his third goal of the Panthers' two exhibition contests. The sophomore capitalized on a ball delivered from senior Jonathan Bolanos on the right wing, putting his side ahead by three in the 49th minute.

Kosmidis completed his brace in the 63rd with his team's final goal of the night. Receiving a through ball from Lonchar near the left corner of the six-yard box, the forward from Thessaloniki, Greece forced the Queens keeper out of position with a cut across the face of goal, before tucking away the finish in the open net for a four-goal advantage.

With the game in hand and the majority of the Panther starters sitting the bench, the Royals delivered a consolation goal in the 86th, with forward Matthew McCutchen lofting a volley over keeper Holden Trent for the final finish of the afternoon. 

The Panthers outshot the Royals 11-6 on the night, scoring on four of their five attempts delivered on frame. First-year defenders Alessandro Sobacchi and Karson Kendall recorded 77 and 75 minutes on the pitch respectively, while the two teams combined for a total of 25 fouls in what was a physical affair throughout. 

COMING UP NEXT
The Panthers open the regular season next Friday at home against visiting William & Mary. High Point holds a 1-2-0 record against the Tribe all-time, defeating the side 1-0 in the pair's last meeting in 2012.

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