HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women's soccer team advanced to the Big South Conference Tournament Semifinals for the third straight season with a, 3-0, victory over No. 5 seeded Gardner-Webb University on Saturday evening.
Site: Vert Stadium
Score: High Point 3, Gardner-Webb 0
Records: High Point (4-9-4, 3-3-2), Gardner-Webb (4-11-3, 3-3-2)
Head Coach Aaron McGuiness: "I thought our girls came out right from the start and executed the game plan well. We were unfortunate in the second half not to put more away, but we managed the game well and it was nice going into halftime with a 3-0 lead. The message was, it stays that way and we will do everything possible to get the result we needed. They did a great job of executing the plan and following through with everything."
From the start HPU looked like the more dominant team as they showed that by scoring two early goals just 29 seconds apart from each other. Scoring her fifth goal of the season,
Bella Burr ripped one from way outside the box that soared to the top left of the net to hand HPU the 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.
Just seconds after Burr's goal,
Sabba Haghgoo sent a cross that found
Ally Ruiz cutting to the net. Ruiz met the ball and got her right foot on it to roll it right to the back of the net. This was her second of the season scored in the 18th minute.
HPU kept putting pressure on the Runnin' Bulldogs racking up the shot total in search for another goal. The Panthers did just that, creating an even bigger cushion for themselves in the 37th minute when
Peyton Gilmore notched her first goal of the season. Gilmore was in traffic inside of the box as everyone was trying to take control of the ball, but she found a way to score as the keeper dove for the ball and created an opening.
The Panthers took a comfortable 3-0 lead into halftime out shooting the opponent 10-5.
Nothing but pressure was put onto the Runnin' Bulldogs as there were no signs of High Point slowing down. The Panthers created a ton of chances for themselves to keep adding to the lead but couldn't get one to slip by GWU.
High Point's back line kept the pressure on Gardner-Webb and held them off the scoreboard as the Panthers added 18 shots to their total in the second half in route to a 3-0 shutout victory in the Big South Tournament Quarterfinals.
Up Next: High Point will face No. 1 seeded Radford University of Thursday, November 6 at 4:00 p.m. at the Sportsplex at Matthews in Matthews, N.C for a chance to advance to the championship.
#GoHPU
