HIGH POINT, N.C. - The High Point Panthers saw Taylor Parker notch seven points on a hat trick and an assist, and they went on to defeat the VMI Keydets, 6-0, in Big South women's soccer action Wednesday night at Vert Stadium in High Point, N.C. The game served as the Big South opener for both teams.
Parker put HPU (3-5, 1-0 Big South) on the board early, scoring in the 20th minute on a left-footed shot from just outside the box. The ball was hit to the lower right side of the goal, away from VMI (2-6, 0-1 Big South) keeper Emily Marbury, to put the home team up, 1-0. Parker also added goals in the 28th and 60th minutes, and assisted on a 54th minute score to account for her points on the night.
High Point peppered Marbury in the opening minutes, attempting five shots on goal in the first 12:24. The Keydet netminder was up to the task on all, but Parker got through Marbury at 19:56 to make it 1-0, Panthers. Just over seven minutes later, Parker added her second goal, this one coming from 20 yards out off a Kelsey Perrell pass for a 2-0 HPU lead.
The Keydets settled the match down for the next several minutes, but the home team tacked on in the 36th minute. Marbury stopped a Sarah Sermonet header, but the ball came free in front and Amy Burch scored off the rebound, making it a 3-0 contest. Sermonet was credited with an assist on the play.
After eight Marbury saves in the first half, a period in which she saw 11 shots on goal, Liz Nickerson relieved to start the second half. She stopped shots in the 46th and 53rd minutes, but at 53:33, Parker found Perrell with a pass around 25 yards out. Perrell then sent a low shot just inside the left post for a goal, her third of the year, to make it 4-0.
Parker added a one-timer in the 60th minute to complete the hat track, while Perrell added the final goal in the 72nd minute to cap the scoring at 6-0, HPU. The Keydets threatened twice, putting shots on goal in the 75th and 88th minutes, but HPU keeper Jesse May stopped Meredith Baldasare and Killian Buckley to wrap up the contest.
High Point finished the match with a 32-2 edge in shots, including 18-2 in shots on goal. Marbury (eight) and Nickerson (four) finished with a combined 12 saves, while May stopped both of the Keydet shots on the evening.
VMI women's soccer is back in action Friday, returning to Big South play in Conway, S.C. by facing the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
