ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Beau Yantz and
Koven Johnson each scored their first goals of the season as the seventh-ranked High Point University men's soccer team steamrolled past Big South Conference's UNC Asheville on Saturday night, 4-0, on the road for the Panthers' fourth clean sheet to remain unbeaten.
Site: Greenwood Soccer Field
Score: #7 High Point 4, UNC Asheville 0
Records: High Point (7-0-3, 3-0-0), UNC Asheville (5-4-1, 1-2-0)
Head Coach Zach Haines: "Our mentality was excellent tonight. We were hungry to dominate this game in every phase. Super proud of our leaders as they have continued to push this group to be better and improve every game."
Both teams got off to a slow start with just one corner kick and zero shots combined between the two squads in the first 15 minutes. That was unitl
Daniel Lugo shot a missile at goal, ultimately being deflected by the goalkeeper right to the back post where Yantz would clean up the rebound with a strike into the net for the senior's first goal of the season and the 1-0 lead in the 16th minute.
High Point has scored at least one goal in the first 20 minutes in six games this season.
A free kick taken by
Jefferson Amaya from beyond midfield found
Celestin Blondel as he dribbled to the near side endline before crossing the ball to Johnson, who one-timed his first career goal from outside the penalty box in the 31st minute for the 2-0 advantage.
Johnson is the 12th different Panther to score a goal this season.
HPU went into halftime with the 2-0 advantage. The Panthers held the Bulldogs to zero shots on goal, total shots and corner kicks while recording three shots on goal, five total shots and one corner kick in the first 45 minutes of play.
The second half got underway and the Panthers furthered their lead in the 59th minute after Lugo was tripped in the penalty box by UNC Asheville's goalkeeper, setting up Amaya for the penalty kick goal and 3-0 lead. It was Amaya's second goal of the season with his first coming in the form of a penalty kick as well against VCU on September 5.
HPU didn't put their foot on the brake as
Alfred Baafi gave the ball to Blondel, who took one touch before beautifully crossing the ball from just inside the center circle to where only Lugo could get it as he took three dribbles before knocking in his team and conference-leading seventh goal of the season to the right-far post in the 66th minute for the 4-0 lead. It was a double-assist for Baafi and Blondel, making it Blondel's first career second-assist game as he now leads the Big South with five assists.
Lugo has now netted in a goal in every game this season but four.
HPU continues its electric offense that has guided the team to the No. 7 ranking in the country, having scored at least three goals in five games this season. The Panthers totaled seven shots and five shots on goal to seal the 4-0 victory and remain unbeaten through 10 games.
The Panthers' offense wasn't the other factor that guided them to the victory as High Point's defense stood its ground the entire 90 minutes, not giving up a shot to UNC Asheville until the 52nd minute, and not allowing a single shot on goal the entire game as
Josh Caron secured his fourth clean sheet of the season.
The Panthers are now 9-0-1 in their last 10 matchups against the Bulldogs, and have not lost a game to UNC Asheville since October 5, 2005, making it 23 head-to-head matchups between the two teams since that loss almost 20 years ago.
Up Next: The Panthers close out their four-game road trip against 10th-ranked UNC Greensboro in a top-10 showdown down the road in Greensboro on Wednesday, October 8 at 6 p.m.
#GoHPU
