Site: High Point, N.C. (Vert Stadium)
Score: High Point 3 , Elon 2
Records: High Point (2-3), Elon (3-3)
HIGH POINT, N.C.-- The High Point University men's soccer team was victorious in overtime 3-2 over Elon as Alex Abril scored the game-winner in the 97th minute on Wednesday night (Sep. 15) inside Vert Stadium. Sebastian Chalbaud, Caco Fernandez, and Abril Wednesday night marked the 55th meeting between HPU and Elon, the Panthers lead the series 29-13-12. Since becoming DI in 1999 HPU has faced Elon 21 times.
Zach Haines: We will take the result, we needed to find a way tonight. That is all we have talked about since Cornell, we need to play with urgency. We need to get the basics right, the things that we can control on the field and put more pressure on the other team by being the aggressor. That was something we concentrated on this week in training. We pushed the guys, we challenged them and tried to prepare them to bring that attitude and mentality into the game, and fortunately, they did. They earned some moments early on and forced the red card and the penalty so we were able to go up a man and a goal. Obviously, we would have liked to manage things a little differently at the end but really it is just about getting the win tonight and getting back on track. I am really happy and proud of the guys they showed a lot tonight.
Panther Particular
The Panthers offense started to create opportunities 20 minutes into the game with a solid opportunity coming from an Abril shot that got by the Phoenix goalkeeper but was cleared off the goal line.
The first goal of the game came with 15 minutes remaining in the first half off of a Chalbaud PK. The PK came from a Phoenix handball in the box, as the ref awarded Jake Kelly of Elon a red card bringing the Phoenix down to 10 men.
The Panthers doubled their lead in the 65th minute of play off of an unassisted Fernandez finish. Fernandez beat the keeper with a near-post bent ball finish.
Fernandez kept the offensive pressure up for the Panthers with another shot just minutes later ricocheting off the post.
A dangerous ball served in by Cooper Lindfelt bounced around and landed at the feet of Nick Phipps. Phipps connected with Chalbaud who beat his defender and forced the Phoenix keeper to make a big save to keep the score at 2-0.
Holden Trent was put to work as he came up with a big save off of an Elon corner with 14 minutes remaining in the game. Trent stood strong after the ball bounced off the Panthers defenders which allowed Elon to find a shot right in front of the goal.
The Phoenix cut the lead in half with 8 minutes remaining in the game off of an Elon free-kick. Victor Stormsten crossed the ball across the face of the goal and connected with his teammate Jack Dolk to find the back of the net.
Less than two minutes later the Phoenix tied things up and found the back of the net after a scramble in the box coming from a corner kick.
Chalbaud tried to bring the momentum back to the Panthers as he brought the ball down the field and struck the ball to the lower right corner forcing the Elon goalkeeper to come up with another big save.
Trent came up with another big save in the final seconds of regulation as an Elon free-kick was sent right into the box and was directed to the lower-left corner of the goal.
The Panthers generated the first scoring opportunity in overtime as MD Myers found the feet of Chalbaud who struck the ball to the lower right corner but was saved by a recovering Elon defender.
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Abril's overtime goal in the 97th minute led the Panthers to a 3-2 victory over Elon on Wednesday night at Vert Stadium. David Greene assisted Abril's goal.
UP NEXT
High Point is back in action against Maryland as the Panthers travel up to College Park, MD Monday, September 20th in a clash of Big 10 vs Big South. The Panthers and Terps will play at 7:00 PM at Ludwig Field.
#ComeOnYouPanthers x #GoHPU
