A goal by freshman Mamadee Nyepon (Greensboro, N.C./Walter Hines Page) in the 83rd minute proved to be the difference in a 1-0 win by the High Point University men’s soccer team over Appalachian State in an exhibition game on Saturday night at Vert Stadium.

Nyepon scored the game’s only goal with a vicious header from inside the six-yard box off a cross from the left side by junior Shawn Sloan (Geneva, Ill./Geneva). The Greensboro, N.C., native out leaped two ASU defenders to unleash a bullet past the frozen Mountaineer keeper.

“We are very excited that we were able to get the goal late to pull out the victory,” head coach Dustin Fonder said. “Obviously this is an exhibition contest so were focused on working on things and getting guys minutes. That being said it was a phenomenal crowd so to come out and get a win in front of them is a great way to start our season.”

The Panthers struggled to earn many good chances in the first 75 minutes against a compact Appalachian State defense, but in the final 15 minutes of play HPU’s strong fitness began to show as the Panthers earned several good opportunities. Senior Karo Okiomah (Austin, Texas/Hendrickson-Pflugerville) and sophomore Adam Sewell (Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England/East Norfolk Sixth Form College) each saw shots from just outside the 18 sail just over the crossbar while sophomore Alex Martinez (Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern) had a chance from eight-yards out that was stopped by a sliding defender.

Appalachian State had the better of the attack early in the game but senior goalkeeper Michael Chesler (Highland, Utah/Mountain View) made five saves in his first game of the season to pick up the clean sheet in the exhibition. The Highland, Utah native had two spectacular saves in the game, each time stymieing the ASU attacker in a one-on-one situation.

In the 22nd minute, the Mountaineers’ Nate Latigue got in alone on Chesler, but the senior just managed to push his shot to the far post wide of frame. Chesler then came up big again in the 78th minute when a give-and-go freed ASU’s Costin Gregory 10-yards away from goal, but the HPU keeper managed to come out and cut off the angle to make the save.

The Panthers will return to the practice fields ahead of their season opener at Elon next Saturday. It will be the third straight season that Elon and High Point have met in the first game of the year with HPU winning by a one-goal margin in each game. Last season, a penalty kick by Okiomah late in the second half provided the Panthers a 1-0 victory. Kick-off for the game is scheduled for 8 p.m.

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