COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The ninth-ranked High Point University men's soccer team battled fourth-ranked Maryland in a top-10 showdown on Saturday night, with the Panthers ultimately falling 1-0 on the road to the Terrapins in the third ever meeting between the two programs.
Site: Ludwig Field
Score: #9 High Point 0, #4 Maryland 1
Records: High Point (2-1-0), Maryland (3-0-0)
Head Coach Zach Haines: "It was a really good game. Both teams had great moments in both boxes. The guys are really disappointed. I feel for them based on their level of performance not matching the result, but, it's also good that we are so frustrated and disappointed losing to the #4 team in the country on the road. It's where this program is and a sign of where we are going."
It was a slow start between the two top-10 squads, with neither side being able to find the back of the net through the opening 15 minutes. The Panthers created their first dangerous opportunity in the 16th minute when
Enzo Rekka unleashed a beautiful strike at goal toward the bottom-right corner of the net, but the Terrapins made the save. On the other side of the field,
Josh Caron played an excellent first 45 minutes as he faced seven shots and one attempt on net to earn a save.
As the first half ticked down, the score remained deadlocked at 0-0. The Panthers recorded two shots, one attempt on goal and earned two corner kicks.
"We did very well to get into the attacking half in the final third," Coach Haines commented when coming back onto the field for the second half. "We just need to connect a few more passes and play with each other a little bit more and put more pressure on them. We need a little bit more movement and more guys wanting the ball. Maryland is a good team and they have attacking threats and to have a clean sheet through 45 minutes is a good place to be. Overall it was a solid first half."
The intensity picked up immediately after halftime as the Panthers nearly broke through for the opening goal in the 48th minute. A corner kick eventually founds its way to the far post, where
Alfred Baafi was left open, but his header attempt sailed too high.
Caron remained strong in goal despite Maryland's continued pressure. He faced four more attempts, making two saves while the other two shots went over the net.
In the 73rd minute, it appeared High Point had ended the scoreless drought.
Anthony Ramirez soared a strike at net from well outside the box that was deflected off the goalkeeper's hands and toward Baafi. As Baafi collided with the goalie, he managed to get a header on the loose ball that crossed the goal line. However, following a review, the goal was called off and Baafi was called for a foul during the collision with the goalkeeper.
The action went back and forth as both squads searched for the breakthrough.
Noah Behrmann and Ramirez each registered a shot, while the Panthers' stellar defense remained key in keeping Maryland off the scoreboard. Caron came up with another big save on a Maryland attempt, and HPU's backline quickly stepped in to deflect the ensuing follow-up chance.
In the 81st minute, Ramirez had a shot deflected. The ball made its way toward the other end of the field with Maryland's Rodrigo Neri breaking free from the defense and netting in a score for the Terrapins. The goal gave Maryland the 1-0 advantage with less than 10 minutes remaining.
The Panthers had multiple opportunities to retaliate in the final minutes. Behrmann,
Prosper Adagani,
Aidan Morrison and
Daniel Lugo all had incredible looks at goal but all were not enough to get the Panthers on the scoreboard.
After 90 minutes of action, HPU finished with 11 shots, nine attempts at goal and six corner kicks while Caron faced 18 shots and recorded four saves.
Up Next:
The Panthers return to Vert Stadium to take on VCU on Wednesday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
