BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell picked up a valuable point in the Big South standings Wednesday night with a 1-1 draw against 12th-ranked High Point at the Eakes Athletic Complex.
The Camels (6-7-2, 3-2-1) moved into a tie for fourth place with two matches remaining, while High Point (11-2-1, 5-0-1) moved four points clear of Radford and Presbyterian, which enter the weekend tied for second with 12 points.
Tony Pineda put the Panthers in front in the 49th minute when he netted a failed clearance from an acute angle for his sixth goal of the season.
Just 41 seconds later, Campbell equalized when
Matt Lock headed down
Josh Signey's cross and scored on a right-footed effort inside the box.
"Credit to High Point. They're a good, hard-working team and for us to come out tonight and match their intensity and get a point is good to build off of," said Campbell head coach
Dustin Fonder. "However, we're kind of upset because we felt like we leaked a soft goal, but showed great response to get one right back."
Ian Rees' 71st minute shot from the top of the area took a deflection and High Point keeper Keegan Meyer dove to his left to push the ball around his post for a corner kick.
In the final minute of the first overtime period, Campbell's corner kick was cleared by not away and
Gideon Betz' shot inside the box was headed toward the goal before a Panther defender sailed to block the ball away.
Five minutes into the final OT period Bana Ganidekam's left footed dipping shot from 20 yards sailed about a foot over
Samuel Lechuga's crossbar.
JJ Donnelly nearly snatched three points in spectacular fashion in the final minute, but his overhead kick in the box stayed above the bar.
High Point, which entered with the program's highest-ever national ranking (No.-12 in this week's Soccer America poll), finished with a 15-13 edge in shots, while both teams had five on target. Lechuga and Meyer each made four saves.
"Every point in the Big South is critical, so we need to get rested, prepared and start looking at UNC Asheville," said Fonder. "We want to come in here Saturday and get three points."
Campbell hosts UNC Asheville Saturday (7:00 p.m.) on Senior Night in Buies Creek.
