RADFORD, Va. – The Highlanders fought to the final minute but fell against High Point 2-1 to open conference play on Monday night. 

"I was really proud of our team tonight" said head coach Chris Barrett. "We played as hard as we have all season and gave ourselves a chance to tie the game late. I told the guys that if we commit to each other and put forth this type of attitude and effort going forward we will get the results. This is a performance we can build on and take to Winthrop on Saturday". 

The first half of conference play for the Highlanders was a chippy one as the Highlanders found themselves giving up a goal midway through tonight's competition. A costly mistake in the back that allowed High Point's Noah Homes to strike in the bottom right corner to give the Panthers the 1-0 lead. The rest of the half was a back in forth defensive battle with no real chance of a goal for either team as both defenses were able to prevent any threatening opportunities to develop. 

In the second half of tonight's competition, the Highlanders were able to create opportunities in High Point's territory as the second half began but were only able to get off one shot that was threatening to the keeper as he was just able to save to keep it out to keep the match 1-0.

Just 11 minutes into the second half, the Panther's Kaya Ignacio scored on a volley after it was deflected off from a Radford player to make the score 2-0. However, the Highlanders would answer back just eight minutes later with a goal by Alex Kryazhev who was assisted by Mateo Perez Nance to cut the Panther's lead by one. As the game went on, the back and forth continued with the Highlanders being able to get off two more shots after Kryazhev's goal to find the equalizer but unable to find the back of the net. 

KEY STATS   

• The Highlanders got off five shots, with Perez Nance, Hammam, Kryazhev, Silva, and Usher getting off one shot each. 

• The Highlanders' Alex Kryazhev secures his second goal of the season. 

• Highlanders had a total of five corners.  

  
UP NEXT   
The Highlanders are on the road visiting Rock Hill, S.C., as they face Winthrop for their second conference match on Saturday, Oct. 7. That match is set for a 2 p.m. kickoff and will be streamed on ESPN+.  
   
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