CLEMSON, S.C. — The High Point University women's soccer team dropped a hard-fought match versus fifth-ranked Clemson University on Sunday afternoon, 2-0.
SITE: Historic Riggs Field
SCORE: High Point 0, No. 5 Clemson 2
RECORDS: High Point (0-2), Clemson (1-1)
Head Coach Aaron McGuiness: "Coming off the back of Liberty where we didn't start well and going into this game, we asked the players to respond in the right manner. They did and followed the plan we set forward; they were disciplined. We were unfortunate with an own goal in the first five minutes, but you know, from there, we did well and eliminated their opportunities. We had a couple chances ourselves and we just have to play forward more and be cleaner on the ball in those moments. The result could have been a little bit different for us. But all in all, it was a disciplined performance. It sets the bar for how we want to defend for the rest of the season."
Without surrendering an own goal in the opening minutes, the Panthers would've kept the top-ranked Tigers off the board for 72 minutes. HPU held strong defensively, halting Clemson from a goal until late in the second half.
The Panthers had chances of their own.
Sabba Haghgoo had a shot in the first half that went just wide of the left post, while
Kari Powell took a pass in stride from
Abigail Dibble and put her career-first shot on goal in good placement before the Tiger keeper snagged it.
Freshman goalkeeper
Maddie Iro had some head-turning saves, swatting away five to keep the Tigers scoreless until the 72nd minute.
Haghgoo earned her first career start and
Ally Ruiz saw her first collegiate minutes in Purple & White.
Up Next: The Panthers head to the College of Charleston for a match on Thursday, August 22 at 6 p.m.
#GoHPU
