HIGH POINT, N.C. - Sophomore Jacky Kessler scored twice on Thursday night to lead the High Point University women's soccer team to a 2-0 win over Presbyterian College in Big South action at Vert Stadium. The Panthers remain undefeated in conference play with the win over the Blue Hose.

“I thought we played pretty well tonight, especially in the first half and the beginning of the second half,” head coach Marty Beall said. “We scored a couple of really nice goals and had some other great chances so I was really pleased with our overall performance. Getting the shutout and three points at home is important in our quest to win a conference championship.”

The two-goal game was a first for Kessler who entered the contest with three goals in her HPU career. Kessler is the fourth different High Point player to record a multi-goal game this season along with senior Jenny Butler and juniors Becca Hemby and Taylor Parker.

With the win, HPU returns to .500 on the year with a 4-4-6 overall record and improves to 3-0-2 overall. The Panthers are one of just two teams along with Radford that remain undefeated in Big South action this season. High Point also remains undefeated at home in 2012 with a 2-0-2 mark in four games.

Kessler scored her first goal of the game in the 21st minute with an impressive solo effort to put HPU ahead, 1-0. Kessler dispossessed a defender and made a run up the right side before hitting a shot across her body to the far post for her second goal of the season.

The Panthers continued to pepper the Presbyterian goal following Kessler's score, but were unable to find a second score until the 54th minute when the forward found the back of the net off a set piece to push the High Point lead to 2-0. HPU earned a corner kick which was taken from the right corner by Parker. The midfielder hit an out-swinger to the far post where Kessler beat her marker and hit a header off the ground past the keeper and into the goal.

HPU controlled the run of play throughout the game, owning most of the possession in the contest and outshooting the Blue Hose by a 19-3 margin. The Panthers held Presbyterian College without a shot on goal in the game on the way to their second shutout of the season. Freshman Ivy Cocklereece picked up her second collegiate win after getting the start and playing the first half.

High Point will return to Vert Stadium for its next game on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m., when it is set to play UNC Asheville. The Bulldogs dropped a narrow 3-2 decision at Campbell on Thursday and are 3-10-0 overall and 1-4-0 in the Big South in 2012. HPU holds an 8-7-2 edge in the all-time series after picking up a 4-0 win at Asheville last season. 

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