CLINTON, S.C. —Fain Buete recorded her first collegiate multi-goal game to power the High Point University women's soccer team in a dominant shutout, 4-0, win over Big South Conference opponent Presbyterian College on Saturday.
SITE: Martin Stadium
SCORE: High Point 4, Presbyterian College 0
RECORDS: HPU (4-3-5. 2-0-1), PC (1-9-1, 0-3-0)
Head Coach Aaron McGuiness: "It's a tough place to come. It was hot down here and the pitch was heavy — a lot of factors played into it. We didn't have a great first half, but we were fortunate to be 1-nil up. In the second half, especially later into the half when they started to tire, we were able to go and show our resilience and the depth of our team, as well. A lot of people played today, and they deserved those minutes. It was good to see the level didn't drop. It's nice to come away seeing those three goals in the second half and the clean sheet."
The first half was quiet compared to the highest-scoring second half for the Panthers this season. After Buete netted her first goal in the 14th minute via
Emily Mashinski's second assist this season, High Point stepped it up a notch in the final 45 minutes.
First, it was Mashinski depositing an insurance goal in the 61st minute thanks to a cross through the box from
Alex Murphy. The sophomore's assist was her first collegiate assist, while Mashinski's goal was her second this year to give HPU a 2-0 lead.
It would only get better from there for the visiting Panthers. They dominated, keeping PC on the defensive end for seemingly the entirety of the game.
Ellyn Casto kept things in check with three saves and her fourth clean sheet while the Blue Hose changed keepers at halftime.
The keeper change didn't matter to Buete as she stuck yet another one past the keeper, this one coming in the 67th minute after
Emma Schossler's corner feed bounced off a PC player and into the feet of Buete. The fifth-year midfielder, who started and played 71 minutes, buried the rebound into the left top corner to secure her first career multi-career game.
"It's awesome for Fain," McGuiness said. "She's taken a deeper role this year and in past years she's been up higher and been able to get some more of those goals. It's nice for her to get on the score sheet and two good goals, as well. Very, very pleased with her."
In the 73rd minute,
Leah Malone put the icing on the cake. Her second goal of the season came via
Amelia Courbron's first collegiate assist to officially put the game out of reach.
The Panthers' dominant day ended with a four-goal victory and fourth clean sheet of the season, while outshooting the Blue Hose 18 to 11 with five corners to their zero. The complete team win was backed by 10 bench players logging minutes, while
Alex DePerno and Casto recorded complete, 90-minute games.
"There were a lot of people who got into the game today and showed a lot of potential," Buete said, "so going forward we know we have players coming off the bench — and our starters — who can make things happen and score goals. It's really good for us going forward."
Up Next: The Panthers return to the pitch on Wednesday to take on USC Upstate at 7 p.m.
