RALEIGH, N.C. — Tessa Carlin showed out for the High Point University women's soccer team Thursday night as the graduate forward netted her first goals in Purple & White to lead the Panthers in a 2-2 result at North Carolina State University.
The draw marks the second versus NC State — since a 0-0 tie against the Wolfpack on Sept. 8, 2007 — and the fourth tie against a Power 5 team in the DI era. It's the first P5 draw since 2015, when the Panthers tied Vanderbilt (1-1) and Georgia (0-0) in the same season.
SITE: Dail Soccer Field
SCORE: High Point 2, NC State 2
RECORDS: High Point (2-3-4), NC State (1-4-3)
Head Coach Aaron McGuiness: "Going into conference after a draw with a Power 5 team is always a good result. Obviously, a win would've been nicer, but we'll take what we get from this game. The performance was really strong and going into conference, it's exciting to see us string together goals against an opponent like that. We have to carry that forward into conference play, and I think we are putting ourselves in a really good position."
With 1,082 fans at the Dail Soccer Field watching, the Panthers came out of second half on a mission. It was in the 52nd minute when Carlin took an assist from
Fain Buete and turned up field before depositing her first score at HPU past the keeper.
The score knotted the score at 1-all to match an early penalty kick the Wolfpack had in the opening six minutes.
Not soon after, it was Carlin again. This time, the forward took a cross from
Lindsey DeHaven down the line as it found her feet in the box, and she flicked it backwards and right in for the go-ahead goal in the 60th minute.
"We've been working really hard and we came into the second half really confident," Carlin said. "On the first goal, Fain played me the ball to feet then I turned, cut in and just shot it back post. The second one, Lindsey cut down the line and had a great ball and I was able to knock it in. It feels good to get a big point on the road and to score for HPU."
NC State found the equalizer in the 76th minute and edged the Panthers on shots, 16-8 with 11 on goal compared to HPU's five.
Ellyn Casto hauled in nine saves for the Panthers in the net, while all four of Carlin's shots were on goal.
Up Next: HPU now heads into Big South Conference play in a week when the Panthers host Winthrop University for Alumni Weekend Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m.
