BOX SCORE

Senior Marisa Abbott (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac) saved two penalty kicks to help the High Point University women's soccer team win its third Big South Women's Soccer Championship, defeating Winthrop, 4-2 on PKs after finishing the double-overtime match in a 0-0 tie. With the win the Panthers receive an automatic berth to the 2009 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament.

“It is very exciting for the program and obviously it is very exciting for our staff, this being our first year here,” said Beall. “We are very honored to represent the Big South at the NCAA Tournament. I have to give credit to the team; they worked very hard all season. They went through a very difficult non-conference schedule and I honestly believe that non-conference schedule prepared us for conference play. We have only given up two goals in the past seven games because of the toughness and the resilience of this team.”

With the game tied after two overtimes, the championship final went to penalty kicks. The two teams were tied with after two rounds as Katherine Leach and Courtney Durbin were successful for Winthrop and senior Laura Eldridge (Knoxville, Tenn./West) and freshman Kim Grennan (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista) each scored for HPU. 

In the third round, Abbott made a diving save to her right side on the Eagles' Stevie Lucas and junior Sara Rager (Silver Spring, Md./Paintbranch) scored with a shot to the lower right corner to give High Point a one-shot lead. 

Abbott made her second consecutive save with a dive to her right in the fourth round, giving sophomore Laura Shupe (Cary, N.C./Green Hope) a chance to clinch the win for High Point. Shupe calmly approached the ball and beat the Winthrop goalie with a shot to the upper right-hand corner for the winning tally.

The game was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to establish a clear advantage. HPU outshot the Eagles, 18-15, in the game with a 6-2 advantage during extra time. Both teams managed just four shots on frame. Sophomore Katie Taber (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) had the best scoring chance for High Point with a shot from 18-yards out, but it ricocheted off the crossbar and was cleared away by the WU defense.

Abbott made four stops to earn her third shutout of the tournament and her eighth of the season. The Troy, N.Y., native, was named Tournament MVP after finishing the tournament without allowing a single goal.

“Marisa all year has been absolutely fantastic for us,” said Beall. “She provides us great leadership back there. She is a highly competitive young woman and she has lad us all year. She is a well-deserved tournament MVP.

Joining Abbott on the All-Tournament team were sophomore defenders Brielle Spencer (Lynchburg, Va./Heritage) and Danniel Rosado (Albuquerque, N.M./Albuquerque Academy) and junior midfielder Jillie Johnston (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central).

This is High Point's third Big South Championship since joining the conference in 1999. HPU won the championship in 2003 and 2007 and all three championships have come on PKs.

The Panthers find out who they will play in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship on Monday when the full field of 64 teams is announced. The 2009 Women's Soccer Selection Show will air on Monday at 8 p.m., on ESPN News. In High Point's last trip to the NCAA tournament, The Panthers lost, 6-1, against North Carolina.