Gardner-Webb Falls to High Point, Move to 2-1 in Big South
September 28, 2008 | Men's Soccer
A late goal by High Point leads the Panthers to a 1-0 victory over the first place Bulldogs Saturday night at Vert Track and Soccer Stadium.
High Point's Hilaire Babou scored the
game-winning goal with 7:40 remaining in the match to lead the
Panthers to a win in their Big South conference opener.
The goal was set-up when the ball was served from the right wing
into the box which found the head of High Point's Chris Shrum who
flicked it across to Babou who found the back of the net.
After a feeling out period to start the game, things started to
open up for both teams. Gardner-Webb had the first opportunity to
take the lead when Adam Augruso took a shot but High Point's
freshman goalie Michael Chesler made the save. A GWU
foul on a streaking Shrum just outside the penalty box set-up High
Point's initial goal scoring chance. The Panthers took the free
kick which bent just wide of the near post.
The Panthers kept the heat on a few
minutes later when HPU hit a volley which the Runnin' Bulldogs'
goalie Dane Geraci made the save. Gardner-Webb set-up another
scoring opportunity for HPU, turning the ball over to the Panthers
who had a one-on-one with the goalie, but was denied on a brilliant
save by Geraci.
At the half, the score remained scoreless with High Point holding
a slight 7-5 edge in shots, while Gardner-Webb had the only two
corner kicks of the first frame.
The Bulldogs best opportunity came with 20 minutes left in the
contest. Jarrett Jackson fired in a nice shot, but HPU's goalie
Michael Chesler made a diving save to keep it from finding the back
of the net.
The Panthers almost cracked through minutes later when freshman Michael Stephenson headed a cross to the far right corner, but Geraci was equally up to the task making a diving save of his own.
HPU finally connected with the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute of the match on the Babou goal.
Dane Geraci made six saves while allowing just the one goal for Gardner-Webb. High Point outshot GW 13-7, including a 6-2 edge after the half. The win improves HPU to 5-3-1 on the season and 1-0 in the conference, while the loss drops the Bulldogs to 3-6 overall and 2-1 in the Big South.
The Bulldogs next match is scheduled for 7 p.m. next Saturday, October 4 at N.C. State.
