GREENSBORO, N.C. – Meredith Dunker, Aley Kate McKinley and Bri Jean-Charles each scored a goal to lead High Point past Campbell, 3-1, in the Big South Championship semifinal on Friday afternoon at the Bryan Park Soccer Complex. All three of HPU's goals on Friday were scored off of set piece opportunities.

Anna Brantley put the Camels on the scoreboard in the 64th minute, but the comeback effort fell short against the top-seeded Panthers. This was CU's first goal of the season against HPU after falling, 1-0, in High Point last month.

"I am extremely proud of our team for what they put into this season," said head coach Samar Azem. "It stings to give up three set piece goals. However, all the credit to HPU, they are very good at set pieces and they executed them well today." 

With the loss, the Camels finish the 2017 season with an overall record of 10-7-2 and 5-2-2 ledger in conference play. High Point improves to 12-7-1 on the season and advances to the Big South Championship final on Sunday.

Team captain Shelby Denkert played in her 79th career game on Friday, which is tied for the most games played in Campbell women's soccer history. She has started 77 of those games, which ranks third.

High Point was the aggressor on the offensive side of the ball during much of the opening frame, firing away 10 shots, including four on frame.

In the fifth minute, Erin Scott came off her line to save a loose ball in the box and was caught out of position. HPU's Bailey Beattie capitalized, registering the first shot of the game, which was blocked by Campbell's defensive line.

Denkert notched the first shot of the day for the Fighting Camels in the 15th minute of play, but all-conference keeper Alex Hank knocked it away. McKenna de Graaf collected the rebound, but her shot went high of the crossbar.

The Panthers broke through the CU defense in the 32nd minute of play, as Dunker scored off a corner kick taken by Taylor Romano. Jess de Jesus received the ball, crossed it towards Dunker, who then headed it to the near post.

Just one minute prior to the end of the half, High Point put another one in the back of the net to take a 2-0 lead. Maggie Gruber clanked a shot off the crossbar and McKinley was there to collect the rebound and put it in the back of the net.

High Point came out of the halftime break with energy, applying offensive pressure on the Fighting Camels in the opening 15 minutes of the second frame.

Alexa Genas had a solid scoring opportunity for the Camels in the 51st minute, as she made a long run downfield and fired away a shot from 25-yards out. However, her shot sailed above the top crossbar to keep CU off the board.

Jean-Charles netted her third goal of the 2017 season in the 53rd minute of play to give the Panthers a 3-0 advantage. She headed the ball past the outstretched arms of Scott off a corner kick by Allie Reagan.

After a scramble in the box following a corner kick, Brantley picked up a loose ball and stuck it in the back of the net to put the Camels on the board. Kylee Arno's initial shot was blocked, but Brantley collected the rebound and shot it past Hank for the goal in the 64th minute of play.

Arno, Genas, Abby Sanders and Denkert all fired away shots in the final 25 minutes of play, but each was stymied by High Point's defensive line.

Campbell registered nine shots over the course of the game to High Point's 13. The Panthers also held the advantage in shots on goal (5-2) and corners (7-4). Arno, Brantley, Denkert and Genas all tallied a team-high two shots during the match.

"We can't look past the fact that we are building something extremely exciting. We have a lot of returners coming back and I know these girls are going to be better and stronger. We have eight months to refine a team that will be extremely strong," said Azem.

This match marks the end of the collegiate careers of Campbell's four seniors - Denkert, Emily Erwin, Mackenzie Southern and Haley Thoma. Three of the four seniors (Denkert, Southern and Thoma) appeared in Friday's match for the Fighting Camels.

"I want to thank our seniors. They are outstanding and have been reliable cornerstones on which we've built a strong foundation. We are proud of every one of them and I could not have asked for a better group," said Azem.

Big South All-Tournament Team
Alex Hank, GK, High Point
Meredith Dunker, F, High Point
Michele Micciche, F, High Point
Paige Rombach, M, High Point
Emilie Kupsov, F, Longwood
Carrie Reaver, M, Longwood
Sydney Wallace, D, Longwood
Shelby Denkert, M, Campbell
Anna Brantley, D, Campbell
Sarah Erickson, D, Liberty
Abigail Persson, M, Liberty
Keely Brown, GK, Gardner-Webb
Kelly Hinkle, M, Charleston Southern
Natalie Royaards, F, Winthrop
Alex Struder, D, Radford

Big South Tournament MVP
Alex Hank, GK, High Point