HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women's soccer team kicked off the 2026 season with a matchup against UNC Greensboro on Thursday at Vert Stadium. After a tough battle with the Spartans, the Panthers fell 1-0.
Site: Vert Stadium
Score: High Point 0, UNC Greensboro 1
Records: High Point (0-1-0), UNC Greensboro (1-0-0)
"We had to be stronger defensively, just sticking together and making sure we were blocking shots," McGuiness said. "The goal came from us not stepping quick enough and it lopped in. The message was stay strong, keep defending, but when we attack we have got to have fun with it and just drive."
Heading into the second half down a goal, the Panthers offense generated shots against the Spartans.
Brooke Potter started the chain of shots for HPU with
Ally Ruiz following suit as both ripped low center. Potter led with two shots on goal, while Ruiz and
Morgan Wilcox each had one.
"As we go with games, we will become more familiar with each other, have greater trust, and a greater bond as we continue to build towards conference play," McGuiness said. "The message to the team today was, I thought we were the better team and we were unlucky with some of our chances. At the end of the day we have got to stop goals and we have to score goals. We learn from our mistakes and we move on from it… its behind us."
Sabba Haghgoo ripped four shots for High Point, her first shot starting the game at the 2 minute mark.
Taylor Howarth,
Kyah Montano, Wilcox,
Mazie Monroe, and
Chloe Edwards all tallied one shot in the 90 minutes of play.
HPU started goalkeeper
Kylee Williams who picked up two saves in her 45 minutes of playing time. The first save being shot bottom center. She kept up the momentum with another save on the bottom center to keep the score tied, 0-0 early. With 10 minutes left in the first, UNCG snuck a goal past Williams to break the 0-0 tie.
Goalkeeper
Nylah Mirshafiei started the second half and showed talent right away. She recorded three saves in her 45 minutes of play, not letting a goal slip past her. All three saves were shot bottom center but Mirshafiei showed speed to keep the game 1-0.
#GoHPU x #NAKAMA
