HPU wins Big South men's soccer title on PKs
Nov. 12—HIGH POINT — When the Big South men's soccer championship game went to penalty kicks Saturday night, High Point freshman keeper Justin Stewart came off the bench and did the job for which he prepared the past two weeks.
Stewart stopped UNC Asheville's try that opened the shootout that the Panthers won 4-3 and decided a match that was tied 1-1 at the end of the first half, regulation and two 10-minute overtimes before an announced crowd of 1,978.
"We talked before the game that I'd come on if it went to penalties," Stewart said. "I've been practicing them, so I knew if I came in for a penalty shootout that I'd be ready. We were lucky to get the result."
Stewart replaced Josh Caron, another freshman, who was in goal for all 110 minutes of game action.
"Justin is an elite shot stopper and we've been working on penalties the past two weeks," HPU head coach Zack Haines said. "He's been unbelievable in training and so we felt like he's the type of guy, confidence-wise, preparation-wise, that he'd rise to the occasion and he certainly did. It was no slight at Josh Caron, who has had an unbelievable season. We felt Justin is what we needed for that moment and he delivered."
Diving to his right, Stewart tipped away a shot by Brendan Herb. Jefferson Amaya ripped HPU's first attempt past Bulldogs goalie Charlie Farrar, giving the Panthers an advantage they didn't surrender.
"The goalkeeper coach did a bit of scouting so we would know which way people might be going," Stewart said of his save. "(Herb) went to that side and we were able to execute and make a save."
Each team converted on its next three shots, putting Asheville down 4-3 and needing to make its final shot. Aidan Whitlock pulled it wide and HPU immediately began celebrating. The Panthers improve to 10-3-5 while the Bulldogs end the season 10-5-3.
Tournament MVP Seth Antwi, defender Finn McRobb and Thomasville native Anthony Ramirez made the other penalty shots for the Panthers.
By winning the tournament title, HPU automatically qualifies for the NCAA tournament. The Panthers will learn their first-round opponent plus game location and time on Monday.
UNC Asheville struck first on Sam Pitts-Eckstal boot off a pass from Aysa Hamad in the 18th minute. The Panthers drew even in the 32nd minute. Tony Pineda sent a long cross from the right to Antwi on the left. Antwi then ripped a crossing shot into the right side of the net.
Pineda, Alex Abril and Finn McRobb were selected to the all-tournament team in addition to Antwi.
HPU finished with a 20-10 advantage in shots after UNC Asheville held a 5-4 cushion after the first half. The Panthers misfired on a prime one-on-one opportunity in the second half. In the second overtime, one shot went off the left post and another flurry of activity at the net included a save by the goalie and a stop by a defender.
"We couldn't have done much better to put ourselves in a position to win," Haines said. "We would have liked to have done better on their goal but that was about the only thing we gave up. We had two shots cleared off the line, hit one off the post and missed on three one-on-one chances. You can't create more chances than that in a conference final but it just didn't happen for us. But UNC Asheville made plays. Their keeper was fantastic and their defenders cleared the ball off the line. Sometimes that's the way it goes and you have to be mentally strong enough to continue to push."
