HIGH POINT, N.C. — Nine games are in the books.
After a week off following the completion of non-conference play, the High Point University women's soccer team is back and ready to jumpstart Big South Conference play as the Panthers welcome Winthrop University for the conference opener Saturday at 1 p.m.
"Our non-conference schedule had some challenging opponents and we proved to ourselves that we are capable of competing with the best of them," HPU Women's Soccer Head Coach
Aaron McGuiness said. "We are a very resilient group that has a strong work ethic and desire to compete. We have shown that we can play some really good soccer. Now heading into the Big South, we have to take each game as it comes and making sure that we are mentally prepared to play our best soccer regardless of the opponent."
The non-conference slate was one of the more competitive ones to date. HPU played six of its nine games on the road, with a 2-2-2 record to show for. A 1-0 win at UNC Greensboro and a 2-2 tie at Power 5 opponent NC State highlighted the away games as the victory over the Spartans was the first ever at their place. The draw against the Wolfpack proved to be the fourth over a P5 team and the first since 2015.
HPU also defeated UMBC at its place on a five-day road trip north to Baltimore before a tough loss at Old Dominion was the lone game out of reach. HPU was edged at Marshall, 1-0, a woman down for the entire second half and tied App State to round out the away games. At home, HPU tied with Florida Gulf Coast and Campbell while falling to East Carolina.
"The biggest thing that I've learned about this team so far through non-conference play is that we have what it takes to play and compete against high-level teams," HPU junior midfielder
Lindsey DeHaven said. "We did not always get the results we wanted or deserved, and our record does not accurately display the grit and heart we put into every game we played and the hard work we put into every practice day in and day out, but this never stopped us from continuing to show up and give the effort necessary to continue this team's success."
The away trips allowed the team to bond and create a family atmosphere that is translating to play. It's a chemistry the captains —
Emma Schossler,
Alex DePerno and
Fain Buete — felt coming into fruition as preseason began in August and now the results are backing it up with Big South on the fringe.
Last season, HPU went 4-4-1 in conference play and missed the Big South Tournament after historically making the final bracket behind winning 13 total Big South titles. It's been an etched-in motivation for the Panthers as they've used non-conference play to shore up tactics and perfect game plans under second-year Coach McGuiness.
"What I am most excited for about this conference season is to compete and show the Big South that last year's results were out of character for HPU women's soccer," DeHaven said. "The team that we have right now, with the mentality we all share, is not going to let there be a repeat of last season. We have been anticipating the start of this season since the last one ended, and we are extremely focused on our goals, confident in our abilities, and prepared to put everything on the line."
DeHaven, who has started and played in all nine games, has been a big piece of the Panthers' team as she leads the team in shots (23) and has recorded an assist. But even then, the Sellersville, Pa., native knows it doesn't start or end with her. It'll will take the entire squad and its strong team-first culture to reach the standard set for the HPU women's soccer program.
And, so, it begins Saturday against the Eagles as HPU looks to take it game-by-game with lots to prove.
"I feel as though this season has nothing to do with the teams opposing us and what people will say, but this season is about us and proving to ourselves that we have more than what it takes and are beyond capable of making it all the way," DeHaven said. "Moreover, the culture of this team is unmatched, and I am excited to see how this helps us as we move through conference play, especially when times get tough. This strong culture can be credited to the amazing leadership we have on this team.
"Our captains and leadership group have done an incredible job to help build up this team and keep us working towards our goals and I am stoked to see this not only continue to grow but pay off as we start our Big South season. We are here, we are ready, and we want it!"
#GoHPU
