University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
High Point
Men's Soccer Ties High Point 1-1
10.08.2011 | Men's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville and High Point battled for 110 minutes before settling for a 1-1 Big South Conference men's soccer tie at Greenwood Field Saturday afternoon.
Asheville goalkeeper Lassi Hurskainen was sensational in goal as he stopped nine High Point shots, including a penalty kick by the Panthers early in the match.
High Point goalkeeper Michael Chesler was solid for the Panther with six saves. He stopped an Asheville PK early in the second half.
The Panthers out-shot Asheville, 22-10 but most of that came in the first half when they had a 12-2 advantage.
"We got better as the match went on today," commented Bulldog coach Matt Kern. "High Point is a handful up front but we adjusted and came close to getting a win. I'll take a tie with High Point though. They're a good team and are going to win a lot of matches this season."
The action started early when the Bulldogs were called for a foul in the box in the third minute. Shawn Sloan of High Point took the PK but was stopped by Hurskainen.
The Panthers kept the pressure up on the Bulldogs but Hurskainen constantly denied the visitors.
But High Point finally got on the board in the 34th minute. Mamadee Nyepon took a pass from Karo Okiomah and dribbled down the right sideline. Nyepon then connected a shot from 15 yards out that found the back of the net for a 1-0 Panther lead at 34:02.
Early in the second half, Asheville picked up the pace and began to put pressure on the visitors. The Panthers were called for a hand-ball in the box five minutes into the second half. David Parra took the PK for Asheville but Chesler stopped his shot. Parra got the rebound but Chesler again stopped Parra to keep the visitors in front, 1-0.
The Bulldogs tied the match in the 74th minute. High Point was whistled for a foul and Asheville had a direct kick. Senior Bryan Bartels' 25-yard blast found the far side of the net to make the score 1-1 at 74:08.
Both teams had chances for the go-ahead goal in regulation but each goalkeeper came up big.
In overtime, the Bulldogs had the run of play and had five corner kicks in the two overtime periods.
Asheville plays at Winthrop Wednesday night at 7 p.m. High Point hosts Coastal Carolina Wednesday night, also at 7 p.m.
