HIGH POINT, N.C. - High Point (8-1-3) continued their impressive home form with a convincing 2-0 victory over USC Upstate (4-8-1) on Sunday afternoon at Vert Stadium, extending their unbeaten streak at home to seven matches. A crowd of 847 witnessed the Panthers secure their eighth win of the season through goals from Daniel Lugo and Beau Yantz.
The breakthrough came in the 75th minute when Daniel Lugo found space inside the box and fired a precise shot into the bottom right corner. Beau Yantz doubled the advantage in the 82nd minute, capitalizing on a well-worked team move to secure the final 2-0 margin.
The first half saw High Point establish early control, with Jefferson Amaya testing the USC Upstate defense with two dangerous attempts in the 5th and 20th minutes. The Panthers' pressure continued through Prosper Adagani, who forced a save in the 6th minute. USC Upstate's best chance came through Vitalis Takawira Jr, who sent his effort wide in the 17th minute. The half was marked by physical play, with Henry Burt and Jorhan Chopin both receiving yellow cards for USC Upstate.
High Point maintained their attacking momentum after the break, with Noah Behrmann and Jefferson Amaya both creating dangerous opportunities. USC Upstate's Oscar Kelly and Luke Marin picked up yellows in the 53rd and 68th minutes respectively as the visitors struggled to contain the Panthers' offensive pressure. The tactical shift came around the 75th minute when High Point coach Zach Haines adjusted his formation, leading directly to Lugo's opening goal.
The statistics reflected High Point's dominance, as they outshot USC Upstate 19-8, putting five shots on target compared to the Spartans' four. The Panthers also held the advantage in corner kicks (4-2), while the visitors accumulated four yellow cards to High Point's one.
Jefferson Amaya was particularly influential for High Point, recording four shots and consistently threatening the USC Upstate defense. Daniel Lugo's goal-scoring performance was complemented by his overall playmaking, while Beau Yantz's late strike demonstrated his clinical finishing ability. For USC Upstate, Lucas Bergfors showed moments of promise before being substituted in the 61st minute.
High Point's tactical approach focused on building through the midfield, with Ryan Behrmann and Celestin Blondel controlling the tempo before their late substitutions. USC Upstate attempted to counter through quick transitions but struggled to maintain possession against the Panthers' organized pressing system.
The victory maintains High Point's strong position near the top of the conference standings, while USC Upstate's fourth consecutive loss leaves them searching for answers. The Panthers' defensive organization was particularly impressive, securing their fifth clean sheet of the season.
Looking ahead, High Point travels to face Radford on October 18, while USC Upstate returns home to host Gardner-Webb on the same day, with both teams seeking to build on their respective performances from this match.