With the game appearing to go into overtime after a scoreless regulation, High Point’s Ben Hietala put in a goal with just six minutes remaining to lift the Panthers to a 1-0 victory over the VMI men’s soccer team Saturday night in High Point, North Carolina.
High Point’s Erien Campbell penetrated the Keydet back line and spotted Hietala to his left, who took the pass and shot it into the lower right corner behind a diving VMI keeper Alex Guerra to give HPU the non-conference win. With the win, High Point improves to 1-1-1 on the year while the Keydets drop to 0-2 in a game that was delayed for an hour due to nearby lightning.
The Panthers were effective in keeping the ball in the VMI side of the pitch and constantly pressuring Guerra and the defensive line, outshooting the Keydets by a 21-4 margin with 10 shots on goal to VMI’s one. High Point also had nine corner kick opportunities to zero for VMI.
Facing 21 shot attempts for the night, Guerra earned nine saves for the match while HPU’s Kody Palmer earned one save facing four VMI shot attempts.
The Keydets face a quick turnaround as they travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina, for a Tuesday night matchup with USC Upstate at 6 p.m.
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