HIGH POINT, N.C.– The High Point University women's soccer team was matched up against the USC Upstate Spartans, but the Panthers fell short taking a 1-0 loss at Vert Stadium Saturday evening.
Head Coach Aaron McGuiness: "Obviously disappointed with the result, but I'm extremely proud of how we played. I think it was a game that would have gone either way and today it didn't go our way."
SITE: Vert Stadium
SCORE: High Point (0), USC Upstate (1)
RECORDS: High Point (3-8-1) (2-2), USC Upstate (8-2-3) (4-0)
Both teams came onto the pitch determined despite the weather, with possession going back and forth until the 6:30 mark, when the Panthers goalie Nylah Mirshafiei saved her first shot of the game where Upstate shot low right.
Shortly before the 40-minute mark, the Panthers tried to take the lead when Sabba Haghgoo took her first shot on goal which went low center. With 45 seconds left in the half, the Panthers tried one last time to take the lead when Abbie Zubrzycki shot to the left center for her first shot on goal.
In the second half, Haghgoo was determined to score by taking a shot, but the Spartans defense blocked it. Haghgoo wasn't the only one determined; four minutes later,
Morgan Wilcox connected with
Chloe Edwards for Wilcox's first shot of the game, later Zubrzycki took her first shot of the half. She took four of the five shots on goal with the fifth being from Haghgoo. The game ended with HPU totaling nine shots from Haghgoo, Zubrzycki, Wilcox,
Coryn McDonnell, and
Thea Oberhoff.
With just over five minutes left, USC Upstate took a 1-0 lead, while High Point couldn't find the back of the net in the final minutes. The Panthers defense was challenged all game, but their hustle stayed strong.
Mirshafiei stayed inside the goal for the full 90 minutes where she claimed five saves.
Up Next: The Panthers are heading back on the road for their next game against Gardner-Webb. The Panthers will face the Runnin' Bulldogs on Wednesday, October 16, for a midweek matchup in Boiling Springs, N.C., at 6pm.
#GoHPU x #NAKAMA
