HIGH POINT, N.C. - The High Point University women's soccer team played Western Carolina to a 1-1 double-overtime draw on Sunday afternoon at Vert Stadium. Redshirt-sophomore Kelsey Perrell scored HPU's lone goal in the draw.

"This was definitely a battle today," head coach Marty Beall said. "Western Carolina is a very talented and experienced team. I thought there were periods today where we were fantastic, especially in the first half. We created some chances and found a goal. Unfortunately we were unable to maintain that level of play throughout the second half and overtime periods to get the result we wanted."

With the tie, High Point is off to its best start in program history with a 1-0-2 record through its first three games.

High Point controlled possession in the first half and broke through for the first goal of the game in the 29th minute on a header by redshirt-sophomore Kelsey Perrell. The Panthers earned a corner which redshirt-freshman Bailey Beattie delivered into the box to the near post. Perrell flashed across her marker and flicked a header over the WCU keeper for her second goal of the season.

Western Carolina tied the game in the 59th minute on a goal by Caitlyn Bradham. The Catamount's Markie Studnicky beat HPU keeper Jordan Beets to a ball into the box and touched it wide before crossing it across the face of goal. Beets got a hand on the cross but couldn't clear it as it fell to the feet of Bradham in the six-yard box.

Sophomore Kai-Lin Hernandez and Beattie each had a chance to score the game-winner in regulation when they were played in behind the defense but both of their shots were saved by Western's Taylor Erickson.

High Point had the better chances in overtime against the Catamounts, outshooting WCU by a 2-1 margin and earning three corner kicks to Western's none.

The Panthers controlled possession for the game and ended the day with a 17-10 edge in shots and a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal. HPU also earned nine corner kicks to WCU's two.

Freshman Jordan Beets took over for fellow freshman Alex Persiani in goal at halftime and earned the tie to improve to 1-0-1 on the season. Western Carolina's Taylor Erikson also took over in goal at the half and earned her first result of the season to move to 0-0-1.

High Point continues its two-game home stand on Friday, Sept. 5, when the Panthers will face inter-Triad rival Elon at Vert Stadium. Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m.

#GoHPU

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