High Point, N.C. — The High Point University women's soccer team is kicking off the new academic year with its first regular-season matches, while men's soccer and volleyball compete in exhibition games.

Women's Soccer

vs Campbell |Thursday, Aug. 17 | 7:00 pm | Vert Stadium
Promos: HPU T-Shirt 
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at Marshall |Sunday, Aug. 20 |1:00 pm | Hoops Family Field
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The HPU women's soccer team fell one game short of participating in postseason play last year following a devastating loss against Radford. The Panthers have since recruited 11 new players: eight incoming freshmen and three transfers. 

The last time Campbell University stepped onto the field, the Camels were competing against Gardner-Webb University to advance to the Big South Championship finals. The game was extraordinarily close and ended with Gardner-Web clutching the win through a 4-3 penalty kickoff after both teams were unable to edge out a victory through regulation play and two overtimes. 

This season opener will be important for the Panthers as last time HPU played Campbell, the Camels handed the Panthers a 4-0 loss in what proved to be the final in-conference matchup. Despite the most recent loss, High Point and Campbell have a fairly even history. HPU has won over Campbell nine games, lost eight games, and tied twice since 1999. 

The Marshall women's soccer team was handed a 3-1 loss in its last game during the 2022 season. The team faced off against South Alabama, a powerhouse in their conference, for the chance to move on to the Sun Belt Conference semifinals. Despite the upsetting loss, Marshall ended their season with the most conference points since 2018. 

Marshall and High Point have only played each other a total of five times, beginning in 2007. HPU has clinched the victory twice, lost twice, and tied once, which occurred during their most recent matchup last August. 

Men's Soccer

 at North Carolina | Tuesday, Aug. 15 | 7:00 pm | Dorrance Field

 vs South Wesleyan |Saturday, Aug. 19 | 7:00 pm | Vert Stadium
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Last year, the men's soccer team fell to No. 5 Stanford during the second round of the NCAA championship. HPU was able to score two goals during the game, but it wasn't enough to upset the Cardinal, who scored six. The Panthers have since added seven new student-athletes to their team: five incoming freshmen and two graduate transfers. Additionally, the team was ranked No. 16 in the TopDrawerSoccer national recruiting rankings.

North Carolina ended its 2022 season falling to High Point during the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers beat the Tar Heels, 2-0. Despite going home in the first round, North Carolina has a long history of NCAA appearances. Last season marked the Tar Heels' 29th NCAA appearance and their 14th appearance in the past 15 years. Head coach, Carlos Somoano has taken 11 of the 12 teams he has coached to the NCAA tournament. 

HPU has only defeated North Carolina once, which occurred the last time the two teams met on the field in 2022. North Carolina has handed the Panthers three losses and one draw since their first matchup in 1999. 

The Southern Wesleyan University men's soccer team last played Belmont Abbey in the final game of its 2022 regular-season schedule. Despite the tied score at halftime, the Warriors fell to Belmont Abbey, 3-1.

High Point and South Wesleyan men's soccer has never competed against each other according to both teams' websites. 

Volleyball

at Wake Forest | Saturday, Aug. 19 | 2:00 pm | Reynolds Gym

The High Point volleyball team last saw action during the first round of the NCAA Tournament, marking their second NCAA appearance in the past three seasons. The Panthers lost 3-0 against No. 6 University of Southern California. The Panthers have since added 10 new players: four incoming freshmen and six transfers. Six returning athletes will be rounding off the roster. 

Wake Forest finished their season with a five-set nail-biter against Davidson. The two teams were battling to advance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. Davidson was able to pull ahead and claim the 3-2 victory.

Wake Forest has four wins over the Panthers since the Demon Deacons' first matchup in 1999. The last time the two teams met on the court, HPU secured a 3-1 victory, giving the Panthers two total victories over Wake Forest.