BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – It was a battle between the top two teams in the Big South Conference standings as the No. 8 High Point University men's soccer team took on Gardner-Webb University on the road Saturday night. Led by scores from
Lukas Kamrath,
Daniel Lugo and
Jefferson Amaya, along with a
Josh Caron PK save, the Panthers shutout the Runnin' Bulldogs, 3-0, to claim the Big South regular-season championship for the third straight season.
The victory also continues the Panthers' unbeaten road conference streak to 10 years as the last time HPU lost on the road was in overtime at Presbyterian on Sept. 17, 2016. After the dominant performance on the eve of the anniversary of the late Holden Trent's death, the Panthers were awarded the Big South regular-season trophy on the field. Not only was it the third straight regular-season title for High Point but the sixth over nine years and the Panthers' seventh all-time.
As the No. 1 seed in the tournament, the Panthers automatically advance to the semifinals of the Big South Tournament and gain home-field advantage as the semifinals game will be played at Vert Stadium on November 9.
Site: Greene-Harbison Stadium
Score: #8 High Point 3, Gardner-Webb 0
Records: High Point (10-1-3, 6-0-0), Gardner-Webb (11-2-2, 4-1-1)
Head Coach Zach Haines: "Congratulations to our team and our staff. They deserve this for who they are and what they give to this program - on and off the field. There's more to come."
In the 21st minute, a foul was called on Gardner-Webb, setting up a free kick opportunity from near midfield as Kamrath took it with Amaya beside him. With the Runnin' Bulldogs' goalkeeper not paying attention, Kamrath aired the ball — from nearly midfield — into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. It was the senior captain's second goal of the season.
With nine seconds remaining in the first 45 minutes of action, a foul on HPU inside the penalty box created a PK equalizer opportunity for Gardner-Webb. Goalkeeper
Josh Caron timed the ball perfectly, fully diving out to the right and deflecting the ball with one hand to prevent the score. The incredible save was Caron's third in the first half to preserve the 1-0 halftime lead.
After missing a shot opportunity a few minutes prior, the point and goal leader in the Big South Conference, Lugo, redeemed himself in the 55th minute.
Celestin Blondel found
Alfred Baafi down the field as Baafi took his time before finding Lugo, who took one dribble before curving the ball around the defender and into the back right corner of the net for his ninth score of the season for the 2-0 advantage. It is the eighth different game Lugo has logged a goal.
High Point continued to keep its foot on the gas pedal. A foul call on Gardner-Webb set up another foul kick, this time, from just outside the penalty arc.
Amaya took the free kick and drilled the ball just out of the reach of the Runnin' Bulldogs' goalkeeper's hands, and into the top left corner net for a magnificent goal and 3-0 commanding lead in the 74th minute. It is Amaya's third goal of the season.
High Point sealed the 3-0 shutout victory for its third straight win. The Panthers remain undefeated in conference play, and snap its two-game losing streak to Gardner-Webb, while moving to an overall record of 16-3-6 in its series history against the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Caron finished the game with six saves, and for him, it was his seventh clean sheet of the season and his fifth straight in conference play as Caron has only allowed one goal thus far against Big South Conference opponents.
HPU totaled seven corner kicks compared to Gardner Webb's, five. The Panthers' were outshot 12 to 8, and shots on goal, six to five but took advantage of their opportunities.
Up Next: The Panthers stay on the road for a non-conference matchup at Davidson College, on Tuesday, October 28 at 7 p.m. in Davidson, N.C.
#GoHPU
