HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University Intercollegiate Club Sports program capped off its first weekend of action with a series of contests by the cross country, men's ice hockey (Division II) and women's soccer programs.
High Point University Intercollegiate Club Sports was also represented by sophomore
Danica Zenhye at the Jiu Jitsu Con as part of the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation event in California. Competing in the adult purple belt division, Zenhye earned a medal over the course of the weekend.
Cross Country
Sept. 5 | at North Carolina (Zmijewski WakeMed Invitational) | M: 6th of 11 / W: 5th of 11
The Panther cross country team opened the 2026-27 season with an appearance at the Zmijewski WakeMed Invitational hosted by North Carolina. The event was held in Cary, N.C., at the WakeMed Cross Country Course.
High Point's men's team earned a sixth-place finish due in large part to Ryan Greathouse posting a 27th-place finish in a time of 17:57.63. Greathouse, the top finisher for the Panthers unit that amassed 172 points and finished behind North Carolina, N.C. State, Clemson, Appalachian State and Georgia.
Matteo Higueros boasted the second-best time for the Panther men's squad, crossing the line in 19:19.34 (52nd). Angel Esparza, with a 6:48 pace, ended the race in 67th with a mark of 21:09.67. He was followed on the course by the High Point pair of Donovan Scott (29:26.53 / 91st) and Logan Horn (31:03.85 / 93rd).
The Panthers' women's team closed out the race in fifth, preceded by North Carolina, N.C. State, Liberty and Georgia. Camille Horvath was the top women's finisher for High Point with a mark of 24:23.17, closing 35th overall.
All five Panther runners were among the Top 50 finishers, as the quartet of Jeweliana Gorham (26:36.40), Chloe Koper (28:46.72),
Angelina Kunnecke (29:40.46) and
Millie Stickler (29:40.71) crossed the line 45th through 48th, respectively.
Men's Ice Hockey Purple (DII)
Sept. 4 | at Florida | Jacksonville, Fla. | L, 4-3 OT
Sept. 6 | at Florida | Jacksonville, Fla. | L, 3-2
Under the direction of new coaches
Jason Richard (head coach) and
Philip Boyce (assistant coach), the High Point University men's ice hockey (DII) squad traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., for a two-game in three-day stretch with Florida at the Community First Igloo in Jacksonville, Fla.
High Point received one goal each from the trio of
Lakin Glessner, Chris Caccitore and Graedon Fair in the opening game of the season. The Gators grabbed the early 1-0 lead inside the first two minutes of action, before forging in front by two goals with a strike at the 1:56 mark of the opening period.
The Panthers retaliated with a goal of their own with 28 seconds remaining of the first, slicing the margin to 2-1. Florida pushed the lead back to two goals, 3-1, with a goal at the 12:19 mark of the second period. However, the scrappy Panthers answered with a goal at the 9:20 mark, converting their 19th shot of the contest into a goal that resulted in a 3-2 Florida lead.
Facing a 3-2 deficit in the third period, High Point quickly tied the game at three when the Panthers muscled past three Florida defenders to score the third goal of the contest. With the two teams knotted at 3-3 in the overtime session, Florida took advantage of a turnover in the High Point offensive zone to score the game-winning goal with 2:25 left in the contest.
The two teams returned to the ice on Sunday afternoon, capping off the two-game series and third all-time meeting at the Community First Igloo in Jacksonville, Fla. High Point struck first offensively with a goal at the 1:23 mark of the first period off the stick of
Finley Patrick.
Teammate
Peter Cross bumped that margin to 2-0 for the Panthers at the 17:27 mark of the second. Florida answered with its first goal, scoring in a 4-on-3 defensive indifference, just over eight minutes later. With the two teams at even strength, Florida evened the contest 2-2 with 4:06 left in the second period.
Locked in a defensive battle, Florida's offense broke through with 5:55 left in the third, driving a shot through past the Panthers' defense for the game-winning goal.
Women's Soccer
Sept. 4 | vs. Wake Forest | High Point, N.C. | L, 2-0
High Point women's soccer had its season debut by hosting Triad foe Wake Forest on Friday evening at Congdon Field.
It is the first of two scheduled home games for the Panthers, who also have UNC Wilmington on the docket on September 26th at 3 p.m.
Wake Forest emerged with the 2-0 victory over the Panthers after a delayed start due to lightning in the Triad. The Demon Deacons avenged a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Panthers a season ago.
