HPU picks up 3-1 win at home over Liberty

October 1, 2013

HIGH POINT, N.C. - The High Point University men's soccer team picked up a 3-1 win over Liberty in Big South Conference action on Tuesday night at Vert Stadium. Junior Mamadee Nyepon added two more goals to his tally in the win for the Panthers.


"This was a good performance tonight because it was built around hard work," head coach Dustin Fonder said. "There wasn't always the quality at times but the work rate was excellent. I am proud of the strong defensive mindset the team carried into the game tonight."

High Point jumped out to an early lead in the second minute of action when Nyepon headed home his ninth goal of the season to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Junior Colscon Wiley got the ball on the left flank and delivered a lofted cross into the box. Nyepon ran onto the pass and hammered it into the top right corner of the goal for the score.

Liberty opened the second half pushing for an equalizer down 1-0. The Flames nearly tied the game in the 54th minute with a header to the right post, which forced a team save as Wiley headed the shot off the line and out of danger.

High Point withstood the early pressure from Liberty and doubled its lead in the 64th minute with a header by senior Adam Sewell off a corner by sophomore Austin Yearwood. HPU earned three-straight corners and on the third Yearwood hit an in-swinger to the near post. Sewell jumped and flicked it on to the far post for his first goal of the season and a 2-0 lead.

Nyepon found his second of the game just five minutes later, pushing the HPU lead to 3-0. The Panthers earned a free kick just over the half line and Yearwood delivered a line drive into the box. Nyepon redirected the ball just inside the left post for his 10th goal of the season.

Liberty scored its only game of the match in the 88th minute with a penalty kick by Harbison to make the final score 3-1.

Liberty finished with a 15-9 edge in shots. The two teams each put seven shots on frame in the contest. Freshman Ryan Massey made five saves in the game to pick up his first collegiate win. Scott Sutarik took the loss for Liberty after allowing three goals while making three saves.

High Point improves to 3-5-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the Big South with the win over the Flames. Liberty drops to 4-4-0 overall and 1-3-0 in the Big South.

The Panthers wrap up their current three-game home stand on Saturday, Oct. 5 when they take on defending Big South Regular Season Champion Coastal Carolina at Vert Stadium. The game will kick off after the conclusion of the women's game between HPU and Coastal, which starts at 5 p.m.

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