CLINTON, S.C. ? Presbyterian College women's soccer team battled against High Point University through two overtimes on Wednesday afternoon at Martin Stadium before ending in a 1-1 tie with the Panthers.
PC (3-8-2, 1-3-2 Big South) got on the board first in the second half when senior Lytle Cannon (Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg) scored her fourth goal of the season at the 65:20 mark. After High Point goalkeeper Marisa Abbott was drawn out of the net by sophomore midfielder Stefani Thacker (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeasatern), Cannon hit the wide open net from 30 yards out to give PC a 1-0 edge.
The Panthers (7-3-4, 3-1-1 Big South) retaliated with three shots over the next five minutes. The Blue Hose reclaimed possession and took the ball up the field in an attempt to extend their lead but Thacker's shot was blocked by an opposing defender at 70:34.
The Panthers took the offensive after PC was whistled offsides and midfielder Laura Shupe took control of the ball after several pinball passes and shot from five yards out into the upper righthand corner to even the score with 14 minutes remaining in the half. The two teams ended regulation in a 1-1 gridlock.
HPU's Laura Eldridge took the first shot of overtime when she fired a shot to the center of the goal where junior goalkeeper Abby Young (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) plucked it out of the air for her fourth save of the evening. The Panthers would register one more shot two minutes later but were unable to convert and the game went into a second overtime.
Sophomore forward Melanie Martin (Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest) threatened to give the Blue Hose the lead in the 107th minute of action as she took the only shot in double-overtime, but her shot went just high of the net. PC ended the game in an exciting fashion as the team drove the ball up the field and Cannon drew the keeper out of the net for a second time with 30 seconds remaining. The two players collided and PC drew the foul to end the match in a stalemate.
PC travels to Lynchburg, Va. on Saturday to face its next Big South opponent, Liberty, at 7 p.m.
