COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The High Point University men's soccer team picked up a thrilling 2-1 win over No. 7 Maryland, courtesy of two second half goals from
Cooper Lindfelt and
Sebastian Chalbaud.
Brendan Krueger was credited with an assist while
Holden Trent tallied three saves in goal.
Site: Ludwig Field
Score: High Point 2, No. 7 Maryland 1
Records: High Point (6-3-4, 3-0-2), No. 7 Maryland (7-2-4, 3-0-3)
Head coach
Zach Haines: "I'm proud of the result, but I'm proud of the performance more than anything because we had no fear. It was total belief and confidence that we could come in and do this. There was never a feeling amongst the group that it was going to be some kind of massive defensive effort where we have to get lucky and maybe hit them on the counterattack or restart. We came in determined to take the game to them as much as we could. They're a really good team, obviously, and I thought we deserved the result tonight. So, it's a credit to the guys and everything they gave, and they really did give everything."
In the 16
th minute, the Panthers had a chance to take an early lead as
Jefferson Amaya found
Brendan Krueger at the back post, but Krueger's header was just wide.
After a Terrapin goal, Chalbaud fired a shot from outside the 18, but was tipped by the Maryland keeper for a save.
Trent made his second save of the night in the 37
th minute to hold the Terps to a single first-half goal.
The Panthers wasted no time in the second half pushing the attack, as a ball from Lindfelt bounced off a Maryland defender and into its own goal, tying up the match at 1-1 in the 48
th minute.
Not satisfied with a tie, High Point continued to push into the attacking half of the pitch as Amaya fired a deep shot, but was deflected by a defender and barely pushed out.
Defending their own box, Krueger intercepted a pass and moved the ball to Lindfelt just outside the Panther penalty area. Lindfelt moved the ball to Krueger toward midfield as he continued to push the ball into the attack. Continuing to attack the middle of the field, Krueger led Chalbaud just inside the penalty area where Chalbaud's shot ricocheted off of the Terrapin keeper and into the back of the net for the game-winner.
In the 81
st minute as
Kaya Ignacio wove through defenders in the box to find a cutting Lindfelt, who just missed wide.
Trent swallowed up another late Terp attempt off a corner kick to secure the win for HPU, helping the Panthers to its first win over a ranked opponent this season and first program win over Maryland.
Up Next: The Panthers return to conference play on Friday night in Vert Stadium when they host UNC Asheville. Friday night will also mark senior night as High Point honors its 2022 senior class prior to the 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
#GoHPU
