Soccer and Volleyball wrap-ups
By Patt Budd
Men’s Soccer
Senior Goalkeeper Michael Chesler finished his career at High Point University with a bitter taste in his mouth, and came up short of his goal of winning a Big South Championship.
In the second round of the conference tournament, HPU faced off against No.2 seed Gardner-Webb. Having lost to them earlier in the season, the Panthers went into the game with a chip on their shoulders in hopes to knock off another team, and play in the conference championship game for the second straight year.
Instead, at the end of regulation the game was tied 0-0, and the Panthers went to penalty kicks where Garnder-Webb knocked off HPU 4-3.
The Panthers finished the season at a solid 9-9-3, including 4-4-1 in the conference. But the Panthers came up short from their ultimate goal of a championship, and a NCAA tournament berth.
The team will now graduate key players including Chesler, Will Stewart, and all-American Karo Okiomah, but will bring back sophomore sensation Alex Martinez, and junior Shawn Sloan.
Women’s Soccer
The High Point University Women’s soccer team was bounced from the first round of the Big South Conference Tournament which ended its hopes at a third consecutive championship.
No. 5 Liberty defeated HPU 2-1 in a thrilling overtime game in Charleston, S.C. to send the Panthers home. The team finished the season with an 8-10-3 overall record, 6-2-2 in the conference.
The Panthers will say good-bye to seniors Katie Tabor, Andrea Ritchie, Margaret Fanning, Danniel Rosado, and Brielle Spencer. The seniors will leave HPU with two Big South Conference Championship rings.
Head coach Marty Beall will lead the team into the offseason with optimism returning key starters in Janay Whittaker, Becca Hemby, and sophomore sensation, Kelli Joline.
Volleyball
The HPU volleyball team’s season came to a close with a loss to Radford in the first round of the Big South Conference tournament. The loss ended the team’s chances at a second consecutive conference championship.
The season was filled with many ups and downs after losing many key starters last season to graduation. The Panthers dug a hole early in the season starting off the year going 1-9, and struggled to recover.
The team finished with an overall record of 9-21; 6-8 in the conference.
Despite the disappointing season for coach Jason Oliver and company, the Panthers will only have one senior, Breanna Holliday, graduate. The bulk of the team, including freshman standouts Kristin Heldt, and Chelsea Davis, will return next season. Starters Lauren Bell, Courtney Johnk, Michelle Chakirelis, and Molly Barlow are also expected to return next season, in addition to Maddie Simpson after taking a medical redshirt this season.