HIGH POINT, N.C. – What thriller in front of 1,075 fans tonight as the High Point University men's soccer team took down UNC Greensboro 3-1 Saturday night. HPU has lost only once to UNCG in the past 15 years.
Site: Vert Stadium
Score: High Point 3, UNCG 1
Records: High Point (2-1-2), UNCG (1-4-2)
Head Coach Zach Haines: "Really happy with the performance tonight. Very proud of the guys. We were obviously really disappointed after the Elon game with how that one played out. We challenged the guys this week to have the right mindset and the right response to put everything together that we need to to be a top team. I thought tonight was one of the better complete performances we had. It's a great group. We figured they would respond, and to respond in the way they did tonight was a good sign for the rest of the season."
The party started early at Vert Stadium tonight. In the third minute,
Alex Abril scored a stunning goal off a feed from
Tony Pineda. Pineda volleyed it to Abril, who took it out of the air and swung his right leg around to send the ball to the back of the net.
Sometimes, it is okay to ask for a little help. In this case UNCG helped with giving the extra tap the ball needed to find the net.
Seth Antwi stole back the ball at midfield and led the charge downfield finding
Darian Castillo in the box, but UNCG's Sami Lachekar got the extra foot on it leading to an own goal. In the 38th minute the Panthers had a 2-0 advantage over the Spartans right before the half.
If you thought it stopped there, well think again.
Finn McRobb notched his third goal of the season. Off a corner kick from
Jefferson Amaya, McRobb found his way through traffic and headed the ball right past the keeper. McRobb has only scored one goal each season and he now has three goals just five games into the 2023 slate.
"I couldn't believe my luck to be honest," said McRobb. "The guy just did not mark me as I was running in. Jeff always puts the ball on a dime. I was able to get their today and I know I don't get many, but I have been able to get a few recently, it feels good to get some of the action."
UNCG found its way on the board in the 66th minute. Keanan Bader knocked one in for the Spartans.
That took HPU to the final minutes of the match securing their second win of the season and the ninth victory over UNCG in the last 10 matchups.
HPU outshot the Spartans 12-6 and 4-2 on corners.
Up Next: The Panthers pack their bags and head to Williamsburg, Va. to battle William & Mary Tuesday, Sept 19 at 7 p.m.
#GoHPU
