HIGH POINT, N.C. — The pre-game rain showers didn't dampen the High Point University women's soccer Big South Conference opener as the Panthers blanked Longwood University, 2-0, for their fifth shutout this season.
SITE: Vert Stadium
SCORE: High Point 2, Longwood 0
RECORDS: High Point (4-4-2), Longwood (1-8-2)
Head Coach Aaron McGuiness: "It's always nice to start on the right foot going into conference season. The performance wasn't our best. We were sloppy and frantic at times. The second half was a bit better when we controlled it in moments, but definitely not to our standards. The weather played into it as well as it being our first conference game. The team wanted to go out and play well and the conditions didn't provide for us to be clean with our possessions. It was nice to come away with the win, knowing that it wasn't our greatest performance."
The Lancers helped the Panthers get off to a fast start as a Longwood defender kicked in
Courtney Andruczk's cross, which was intended for
Tessa Carlin, within the opening two minutes.
HPU took the lead and maintained it the rest of the way. The Panthers dominated possession and outshot the Lancers, 14-5, with five shots on goal to Longwood's four.
Aubrey McKessy, who was named a Big South Player to Watch, earned her eighth start and fifth shutout over the past seven games. The goalkeeper had four saves and played every minute alike
Alex DePerno and
Meg Roden.
In the 70th minute, HPU added an insurance goal via a 7-11 connection with
Ally Ruiz and Andruczk. The freshman Ruiz assisted her first collegiate goal with a beautiful cross to Andruczk as the junior headed it to the right of the goalie for her second score this season.
Up Next: The Panthers head to Winthrop for a road match on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 5 p.m.
