ROCK HILL, S.C. — For the second straight match, the freshman connection of
Sabba Haghgoo and
Kasey Resker teamed up for a goal as the duo helped High Point University stay unbeaten in Big South Conference play behind a 1-0 shutout win at Winthrop University Tuesday afternoon.
SITE: Eagle Field
SCORE: High Point 1, Winthrop 0
RECORDS: High Point (5-4-3, 2-0-1), Winthrop (3-6-1, 0-2-1)
Head Coach Aaron McGuiness: "I think in every game we play in the Big South we have to live up to our reputation and we can't let opponents into the game. We did a good job of that for 80 minutes, but towards the end there, we gave them a couple opportunities that we should never have given. I thought offensively we created chances. We scored a good goal where Kasey had a great assist, and Sabba took it really well. We had some other opportunities where we could have been a little cleaner or a little bit more aggressive. We have to do better in those moments to seal out the game, but all in all at the end of the day, it's three points and we will move on with those three points."
The Panthers have a league-leading seven points after playing the Eagles Tuesday in a match that was originally scheduled for September 28 but was rescheduled due to Hurricane Helene.
It was worth the wait as the Panthers dominated play and kept it a no-fly zone for the Eagles. In a scoreless first half, Winthrop didn't record a shot as HPU threatened with a key shot attempts from
Lindsey DeHaven and
Emily Mashinski.
In the 60th minute, HPU wiped the egg off the scoreboard when Resker fed Haghgoo a perfect ball that the forward one-touched up and past the goalie. It was the duo's second time collaborating for a second-half goal.
Haghgoo's second goal in as many games, while being her team-leading third this season, was all the Panthers needed as Resker registered her third assist and second straight match with a dish. Fellow freshman
Abigail Dibble earned her first start in the midfield, while
Tessa Carlin had four solid looks on goal to extend the lead.
The Eagles had chances late into the second half, firing off five shots, but the Panther defense stood strong while the offense out-shot them 17-to-5. It was the Panthers and
Aubrey McKessy's sixth shutout this season.
Up Next: HPU travels to Spartanburg, S.C., for a road match versus USC Upstate Saturday, Oct.12 at 7 p.m.
