Runnin' Bulldogs Fall at #23 High Point, 2-1, in Double Overtime
October 14, 2012 | Men's Soccer
High Point, N.C. - The No. 23 nationally ranked High Point Panthers used home field advantage, literally, as the Panthers used a fortuitous bounce off the field turf on its game-winning goal in the second overtime period to defeat the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 2-1 in double overtime at Vert Stadium in High Point, N.C.
The loss snaps Gardner-Webb's winning streak at three and drops the Runnin' Bulldogs to 3-9-1 overall and 2-2-1 in Big South Conference play. High Point improves to 11-1-1 overall and 4-0-1 in conference action.
Both teams looked to take the lead early in the contest, as High Point's Leon Carby registered the first shot on frame in the 11th minute, which was stopped by Gardner-Webb goalkeeper Scott Krotee.
After the Panthers' Mamadee Nyepon had his shot attempt blocked by a GWU defender in the 14th minute, Gardner-Webb junior Chris Davis posted the Runnin' Bulldogs' first shot of the match in the 16th minute, as the ball ricocheted of the post to keep the match scoreless through the first 20 minutes of play.
The physical play continued, as over the next several minutes each team would be called for a series of fouls, as High Point's offense continued to put pressure on the GWU defense.
HPU's Keith Cowdey put another shot on target for the home team in the 20th minute, forcing Krotee to make another save in the early minutes of the opening half.
Over the next 10 minutes, High Point would control play, as the Panthers outshot GWU 4-0 with the last two shots requiring a team save in goal and a block by a defender to keep the Panthers off the scoreboard.
On the counter attack, Gardner-Webb's Marius Hammersmark tried his hand at scoring the go-ahead goal, only to see his shot sail wide and offline in the 33rd minute.
The Panthers' Austin Yearwood and Nyepon each posted a shot over the next two minutes to no avail, as the match remained scoreless heading into the halftime break.
Out of the break, it was the Runnin' Bulldogs' offense who put the pressure on the High Point defense out of the break, as Davis and freshman Craig Swaby each placed a shot online over the first 10 minutes of the second half only to have High Point goalkeeper Kody Palmer make two great saves to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.
Over the next five minutes it was the Panthers turn to try to score, as Nyepon saw his shot attempt in the 57th minute sail high and over the goal, while Carby's scoring chance in the 59th minute would not get past Krotee.
After GWU's Riley Shelton looked to put the Runnin' Bulldogs on top in the 61st minute, only to fire high and out of play, the High Point Panthers finally broke through in the 65th minute as Shane Malcolm scored on a pass from Nyepon to put the home team on top 1-0.
Davis again attempted to score for GWU in the 66th minute, only to have Palmer come up big once more in goal for the Panthers to keep the home team in front by one at 1-0 with less than 25 minutes to go in regulation.
In the 71st minute, Malcolm fired off another shot attempt, this time hitting the crossbar, as High Point was inches away from pushing its lead to two at 2-0.
Gardner-Webb took advantage, as Swaby picked a great time for his first goal of his career, as the freshman midfielder got to a loose ball in High Point's defensive third and put his shot into the back of an empty net to tie the score up at 1-1 in the 72nd minute.
With the score tied up at 1-1 in the 77th minute, Gardner-Webb had a player issued with a red card, leaving the visitors down a man for the rest of the match.
Despite playing down a man, the Runnin' Bulldogs refused to break, as High Point took three shots over the final 13 minutes of the match with Krotee making a last minute save in the 88th minute to send the Big South Conference match up to overtime tied at 1-1.
In the extra frame of play, High Point outshot the Runnin' Bulldogs 3-0, as the GWU defense blocked two of the attempts to keep the score tied at 1-1 and force a second overtime period.
GWU's Krotee would post three saves over the first eight minutes of the second overtime period, yet he and the Runnin' Bulldogs would come up just short as Adam Sewell played a header off a corner kick in the 109th minute which bounced off the astroturf field and over the head of Krotee, who was shielded by another High Point player, and across the goal line to give the home team the 2-1 win.
For the match, GWU was outshot 27-8, while the Panthers also held on to an 11-4 advantage in shots on goal for the match.
Krotee, who again was huge in the net for the Runnin' Bulldogs for the entire match, posted eight saves in the loss, while High Point's Palmer had three saves in the win.
The loss is Gardner-Webb's fourth this season to a top-25 nationally ranked opponent.
Gardner-Webb will step out of conference play to take on Clemson on Tuesday night, October 13th, at 7 p.m. in Clemson, S.C. High Point will hit the road to take on Campbell on October 17th at 7 p.m.
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| Box Score: #23 High Point 2, GWU 1 (2OT) |
