LEXINGTON, Va. - The High Point University women's soccer team picked up its first Big South win of the season with a convincing 5-0 victory over VMI on Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Va. Senior Jenny Butler and junior Taylor Parker each scored twice in the contest for HPU.

“I am very proud of how the team performed today," head coach Marty Beall said. "Getting this type of result on the road can be difficult so I am pleased with our ability to compete and create numerous scoring chances. Ideally we wish we had two wins this weekend but walking away from both games with points is a great start to conference play for us.”

High Point improves to 2-4-5 overall and 1-0-1 in the Big South, taking four points in two conference road games during the opening weekend of Big South play. VMI falls to 1-7-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the Big South.

The Panthers took an early lead in the 18th minute when junior Kelli Joline scored her second goal of the weekend to put HPU ahead 1-0. Joline got behind the defense off a pass from sophomore Jacky Kessler and beat the VMI keeper one-on-one with a shot from 18-yards out.

HPU doubled its lead in the 30th minute when Parker scored her first of two goals on the day with a shot from distance. Sophomore Melissa Sweredoski caused a 50-50 ball at the top of the box with a tackle and Parker managed to control the ball out of the resulting scrum. The junior then caught the keeper off her line with a quick shot from over 20-yards away which sailed over her head and into the top part of the goal.

The Panther lead stayed at 2-0 until the 48th minute when Butler scored her second goal of the season to put High Point ahead by three scores. Butler controlled the ball in the midfield and unleashed a shot into the upper 90 of the net from almost 25-yards out. Butler then duplicated her goal-scoring feat just six minutes later with an almost identical shot to push the HPU advantage to 4-0.

High Point continued to bomb away from deep and in the 71st minute picked up its fifth goal when Parker scored her second of the match with a shot into the upper left corner off a pass from Kessler. The midfielder used her dribble to beat a defender and find space before letting loose with her shot.

HPU controlled the run of play throughout, putting up 26 shots in the game including 11 on net. Parker led High Point on the day with six shots. Freshman Ivy Cocklereece got her first collegiate start in goal for the Panthers and made two saves on the way to her first collegiate win and shutout.

The match marks the first time that HPU has had more than one multiple-goal scorer since Sara Rager and Katie Taber accomplished the feat in a 7-0 win over VMI on Oct. 22, 2010.

High Point wraps up its current four-game road streak with a game at Winthrop, the defending Big South co-regular season champion, on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. HPU is 5-3-3- against Winthrop all-time but is coming off a 2-0 road loss to the Eagles last season. 

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