Delran native MD Myers finding goal-scoring form at High Point with three straight multi-goal games

After a quiet rookie season in 2019, Philadelphia Union Academy grad has six goals in three matches to start 2021

There’s a saying about goal scorers that you need to watch out for them most when they haven’t scored in a while. That’s been exactly the case with Delran, N.J. and Philadelphia Union Academy grad MD Myers, who has torched defenses three games into his second season at High Point University.

After going 18 matches and 429 minutes without finding the back of the net in his rookie season in fall 2019, he’s scored six times already for the Panthers through three games and 233 minutes.

“It’s been back to basics,” Myers said in an interview last week. “I almost think I was doing too much last year, trying too hard to get that goal.”

His first career goal came from the penalty spot in the 21st minute of the season opener against Division II school Lees-McRae College. His second came just 12 minutes later. He followed that up with a brace against Gardner-Webb and another against Wofford. He was recognized as the Player of the Week by TopDrawerSoccer.com and Big South Offensive Player of the Week last week.

“That’s what I live off of is scoring goals,” said Myers, a 2019 YSC Academy graduate. “That was taken away from me for so long that that’s the only thing on my mind recently is to play hard and score some goals. It’s been a great start to the season; it couldn’t have gone any better.”

Myers credits the team chemistry they were able to build training through the fall with competition canceled. Through three games, the Panthers have outscored opponents 11-1.

“We had that whole semester just to work with each other and really learn about each other and how we play,” Myers said. “I think that has been a big factor in our success and why I think we will have a really good season this year.”

Myers and the Panthers face arguably their toughest so far tonight when they play at Liberty in Lynchburg (6 p.m. / ESPN+). Liberty is unbeaten through their first five games and hasn’t conceded a goal in 470 minutes played. They’re coming off a 1-0 win over ACC power North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Myers is looking forward to the challenge. The former Real Jersey FC striker spent a lot of time during the shut down back home in Delran training with his younger sister, who plays at Delran High School, and reading books, working on ways to improve his mental approach to the game.

“I’ve always had that trait where I can score goals but there’s a lot of times where I’ve lacked consistency,” he said. “Consistency in soccer is everything, so if I can keep scoring goals on a regular basis and keep contributing to my team playing well then I’m happy, and that’s what I’m really trying to do right now.”