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High Point University women's soccer will begin its season with an exhibition game against UNC Greensboro on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Greensboro, N.C. The Panthers will be looking to build on their 2009 Big South Tournament Championship.

Last year, HPU got out to a disappointing 2-12 start to the season before rallying and finishing the season with a 5-3-2 record in the team's final 10 games. The High Point defense played a big role in the turnaround, allowing just five goals in the final ten games and posting 10 shutouts. At the Big South Tournament, HPU posted three-straight shutouts to win the championship as the No. 7 seed. 

The Panthers advanced to play eventual national champion North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. HPU held the Tar Heels without a goal for almost 70 minutes before a score off a rebound gave UNC the 1-0 win. The loss was High Point's closest in three games against North Carolina. 

HPU returns 13 letterwinners in 2010, including second-team All-Big South member and leading scorer Janay Whittaker and Big South All-Tournament honorees Brielle Spencer and Danniel Rosado. The roster also features 12 newcomers that will look to contribute from the first whistle. 

“Winning the championship gives us great momentum and confidence going into the season,” head coach Marty Beall said. “However we know this will be a hard road for us, the conference is not easy. We are a young team this year and with that comes with some roller coaster rides. That being said we are much more athletic and have a lot of speed and skill. We will be a much stronger attacking side and should be a fun team to watch.” 

HPU will feature a new face in net after the graduation of Marisa Abbott, the HPU Division I record holder in career saves, wins and shutouts. Junior Andrea Ritchie, Abbott's backup in 2009, will be called upon to take over the starting role. As a freshman in 2008, Ritchie started nine games and posted a 1.04 goals-against average. She will look to rediscover that form in 2010. Behind Ritchie are two skilled freshman netminders, Jesse May and Amanda McGowan. 

The Panther defense played a big role to the team's late season turnaround and returns two of three starters this season. The backline will be anchored by Spencer and Rosado. Both players earned All-Tournament recognition last season after helping post three-straight shutouts in the conference tournament. Spencer and Rosado are both skilled players who communicate well in the back and do a good job distributing the ball once they gain possession. Whittaker, junior Robin Pecoraro, sophomore Alex Cranston and two newcomers, redshirt freshman Meghan Krasnow and freshman Shannon Quackenbush, will all see time on the back line. 

High Point returns two starters in central midfield this season but is very young at the outside wing positions. In the center of the park seniors Jillie Johnston and Sara Rager return after starting all of last season. Three returners will back up Johnston and Rager in center midfield - senior Rachel Parker and sophomores Katie Harris and Jenny Butler. The wing positions are a position of youth for HPU this season with only sophomore Danielle Schepler possessing any collegiate experience. She will be joined by freshmen Brooke Lisson, Alexie Parpan, Cary Ann Parrish and Sarah Sweeney. 

The Panthers are excited about the attacking prowess of their young crop of forwards. Junior Katie Taber is the lone returning starter but she will be joined by four newcomers - junior Margaret Fanning and freshmen Becca Hemby, Kelli Joline and Sammy Vercellino. Taber was High Point's most consistently dangerous attacking weapon last season. A strong player with the ball at her feet, Taber looks poised to make a jump in the coming season. Fanning, a transfer from Francis Marion, has been moved to the front of the attack where she can use her strong leg and nose for the net. Hemby, Joline and Vercellino all come to High Point after prolific prep careers which saw them score a combined 158 goals.

Following the game against UNC Greensboro, HPU will return home to kick-off the regular season with back-to-back home games against Francis Marion on Aug. 20 and Campbell on Aug. 23. HPU's challenging non-conference slate includes four games against teams from the ACC - NC State, Duke, Clemson and Wake Forest.