HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University men's soccer team fell to Gardner-Webb, 2-1, in the Big South Championship game on Saturday night at Vert Stadium.
 
Site: Vert Stadium
Score: High Point 1, Gardner-Webb 2
Records: High Point (11-4-2, 6-1-0), Gardner-Webb (12-3-3, 5-0-2)
 
Head Coach Zach Haines: "I'm disappointed for our guys, the game can be brutal. At times we felt like we were playing good enough to win. I thought we were very dominant, start to finish, and executed the game plan while creating a ton of chances. Unfortunately, we had two moments that let us down and they executed. Gardner-Webb took advantage of those moments, and it costs us. But overall, I'm proud of the performance that we gave and that we put into this game. I thought on most nights that would have been enough."
 
Gardner-Webb started with an early goal in the fifth minute scored by Leo Andrade. High Point had a few chances to score the equalizer especially in the 17th minute. Mohammed Seidu had control of the ball in the box off the corner kick but ran into some traffic as the Runnin' Bulldogs blocked the shot.

A near chance to score the equalizer off an Amaya corner

17' | HPU 0, GWU 1#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/qBuSwyk9Ug

— High Point University Soccer (@HPUMSOCCER) November 16, 2024

 
At the break, Gardner-Webb held a 7-6 shot advantage.
 
Just a few minutes into the second half, Brendan Krueger was inches away from scoring the equalizer off a header around the six-yard mark. The equalizing goal would eventually come in the 60th minute scored by Lukas Kamrath for his second of the season. Jefferson Amaya sent in a beautiful ball from the corner as Kamrath jumped up and scored a no look header as it found the back left of the net.

GOALLL!!! LUKAS KAMRATH WITH THE HEADER ??

60' | HPU 1, GWU 1#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/ys0Y24ZRLF

— High Point University Soccer (@HPUMSOCCER) November 17, 2024

 
The Runnin' Bulldogs wasted no time as they went ahead and took the 2-1 lead scoring just four minutes after HPU tied it up. Aden O'Hara for GWU pushed the Bulldogs ahead as it just got past Josh Caron in net.
 
HPU fought hard to create a bunch of chances but ultimately GWU played great defense to put a stop to the Panther attack till the final whistle.
 
Anthony Ramirez, Celestin Blondel, and Amaya were named to the Big South All-Tournament team following tonight's match.
 
Up Next: High Point will await the NCAA selection show that will be aired on Monday, November 18 at 1:00 p.m. The stream can be found on NCAA.com.