KNIGHTS POUR IT ONLY EARLY AND TAKE A NCISAA 1ST ROUND VICTORY, 10-1 WIN OVER THE VISITORS FROM NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY;  13-3-0 Overall,5-1  Southern Piedmont Athletic...

KNIGHTS ON LOSING END OF EPIC BATTLE AGAINST CONFERENCE RIVAL STATESVILLE CHRISTIAN IN OVERTIME 1-2; HICKORY CHRISTIAN IS NOW  12-3-0 Overall, 5-1  Southern Piedmont Athlet...

KNIGHTS HAVE A STRONG FIRST HALF AND SCORE A SHUTOUT IN 4-0 WIN OVER CONFERENCE RIVAL UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN; 12-2-0 Overall, 5-0  Southern Piedmont Athletic Association (SPAA)   ...

KNIGHTS PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, COLLECTIVELY AS A UNIT AND SECURE A 10-1 WIN OVER THE VISITORS FROM NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY; 11-2-0 Overall, 4-0  Southern ...

KNIGHTS WIN IN DRAMATIC FASHION OVER RIVAL STATESVILLE CHRISTIAN 2-1; 8-1-0 Overall, 2-0  Southern Piedmont Athletic Association (SPAA)     STATESVILLE, NC- Just two days after the Knights traveled down to Mooresville and captured a win in their first conference game of the season, a 9-1 decision over Woodlawn School, the Knights were on the road for a tough matchup against rival and conference foe Statesville Christian Lions.   With Hurricane Florence fast approaching the North and South Carolina coast, the Lions and Knights once again gave their fans a game that would be forever etched into the memories of players, coaches and fans alike as it would take overtime to decide a winner.    The Knights managed a couple of opportunities in the first half but were not able to capitalize. At minute number seventeen senior Wil Lehman barely missed a penalty kick just left of the post. Then shortly before half, sophomore Chase Collins received a cross from the right side and placed a shot on goal only to see the ball ricochet off the crossbars. The score at half 0-0.    Coach Walker kept his team calm and collected during the halftime meeting and stressed patience, ball control and hustle. These things would give the Knights the best opportunity to come out ahead if implemented on the field of play.   Not until the games sixty-seventh minute would any team score goal. But the host Lions capitalized on an opportunity, navigating through the middle of the Knights defense, giving them a 1-0 lead late in the contest. Fortunately for the Knights, senior Wil Lehman threw a monster throw in from the sidelines and as the ball sailed through the air, freshman Braden Runyon found an opening and leapt high above all defenders and headed the ball into the back of the net. This remarkable play tied the score 1-1 with just four minutes remaining in the contest.    Both teams would battle the final four minutes and head into a 10 minute, sudden death overtime period.   As the team joined together before the overtime period, 2 nd year assistant coach Daryl Carter made some key offensive and defensive changes and gave the Knights a motivational speech, one that mirrored Vince Lombardi of the great Green Bay Packers. Carter, a humble man, would never say it himself but his decisions proved to be the difference for the Knights. (Ok, had to do this at least once this year and was inspired by Joel Whitford – LOL)   During the overtime period the Knights conditioning was paying off as the first 7 minutes of the period was ball control and pressure defense. As the 8-minute mark of the overtime period approached, there was a mad scramble at the eighteen in front of the Lions goal. Sophomore Garrison Mullis found the ball on his foot and punched it in the back of the net. The celebration was delayed due to a foul (handball on the Lions) and after concurring with the second official the Knights were awarded the goal and victory in stunning fashion. A celebration ensued for the Knights.   Garrison Mulliswas the recipient of the HCA Battle Ball, a HCA tradition after each game awarded to the player with the best effort, attitude, performance and all-around impact on the outcome of the contest. Mullis, who returned two days earlier for his first game in over two weeks was the hero of the contest. In addition to his heroics in overtime, the sophomore played solid on the offensive side and was a force to be reckoned with throughout the contest.   The Knights have the weekend off and will return with a morning run at TI on Monday September 17 th @ 6:30 am. The next game on schedule is against North Hills Christian at Henry Fork on Thursday September 20 th . Game time is set for 4:00 pm.   Learn more about the Knights next opponent here:    http://www.northhillschristian.com/about-nhcs/ ...

KNIGHTS REBOUND FROM FIRST LOSS OF SEASON TO BEAT VERITAS CHIRISTIAN ACADEMY 3-1; 6-1-0 Overall, 0-0  Southern Piedmont Athletic Association (SPAA)     HICKORY, NC- Two days after Hickory Christian took their first loss of the season, the Knights came back strong with a valiant effort to knock off the visitors from Fletcher, NC. The game had two weather delays due to the pending thunderstorms, the first for 45 minutes and the second for 30 minutes. Both teams were given 7 minute warm up periods after each delay.    To get the Knights started off strong, senior Gabe Walker, on an assist from freshman Braden Runyon, scored just nine minutes into the contest. Up 1-0, the Knights would have to battle the visiting Warriors for the next thirty minutes before another goal would be scored. Fortunately for the Knights, the second goal of the contest would be from Senior Luke Ikerd. Ikerd was the beneficiary of a nice pass from sophomore Caleb McMurray. This upped the score for the Knights, 2-0 in minute number 39, just seconds before the halftime whistle would blow.    As the Knights and Warriors came out for the second half of play, both teams knew it would be a fight to the finish and any goals scored would be contested by a tenacious defense. For the next twenty-seven minutes both teams would get their chances but were unable to capitalize on the offensive side.   The Warriors from Veritas Christian Academy found the back of the net at minute number sixty-seven, cutting the Knights deficit in half and the score now read 2-1 in favor of the home team. Freshman Ian Benfield out hustled his counterpart to move the ball down the left side of the pitch and found senior Gabe Walker open in the middle of the field. Walker would take a few dribbles en route to his second goal of the evening providing the Knights a little cushion at 3-1 with less than 5 minutes left to play. By rule Benfield did not receive credit for the assist but it was his hustle that certainly led to the Knights going up by two goals. During the final five minutes of the contest neither team would mount any offensive threat and the Knights were able to hold on for the win, 3-1.   Ian Benfield was the recipient of the HCA Battle Ball, a HCA tradition after each game awarded to the player with the best effort, attitude, performance and all around impact on the outcome of the contest. Benfield, who just last game was given honorable mention for his improved play, shined throughout the contest giving the Knights much needed minutes off the bench.    The Knights have the weekend off through Monday and will return to practice at TI field on Tuesday September 4 th @ 5:00. The next game on schedule is more than a week out, an away game on Tuesday September 11 th at Woodlawn School. This will be the first SPAA conference game of the season for the Knights.   Learn more about Woodlawn here: http://woodlawnschool.net/aurora/index.php ...

KNIGHTS TAKE FIRST LOST OF SEASON FALLING TO GASTON DAY SCHOOL 3-0; 5-1-0 Overall, 0-0  Southern Piedmont Athletic Association (SPAA)     HICKORY, NC- Hickory Christian Academy suffered the first lost of the 2018 season on a blistering hot day on the pitch as temperatures exceeded 93 degrees. It marked the first regular season loss in twenty 26 games, a streak that started in 2017.   The visitors from Gastonia, NC, the #1 ranked 2A team in the state, scored at minutes 7, 30 and 45 respectively.    For the short-handed Knights, despite the loss, it was a valuable experience to grow from and there is no doubt they will respond with an even greater determination and focus as the season continues. During the post game review, Coach Walker emphasized getting better via better ball control and patience.    Aedan Arnot was the recipient of the HCA Battle Ball, a HCA tradition after each game awarded to the player with the best effort, attitude, performance and all around impact on the outcome of the contest. Arnot played his best ball of this young season, handling the ball with touch, finding the open teammate and placing the ball in great position. The senior, who has been dealing with a quad injury, was aggressive and used his athleticism and wit on the defensive side to hold his opponent in check throughout the contest.   Senior Owen Duncan and freshman Ian Benfield received praise from Coach Walker for their outstanding performances.   The Knights have Wednesday off to rest their legs but return to action in a home game against another formidable opponent, Veritas Christian Academy on Thursday August 30 th at Henry Fork Park. The contest is slated to begin at 4:00.   Learn more about Vertias here: https://veritasnc.org ...

KNIGHTS OVERCOME A LATE TWO-GOAL DEFICIT TO EARN A 3-2 VICTORY OVER DAVIDSON DAY SCHOOL; 5-0-0 Overall, 0-0  Southern Piedmont Athletic Association (SPAA)   ...

KNIGHTS PLAY A COMPLETE GAME ON BOTH SIDES SECURING 8-1 VICTORY OVER WESTMINSTER CATAWBA CHRISTIAN; 4-0-0 Overall, 0-0  Southern Piedmont Athletic Association (SPAA)   ...

NIGHTS COMPLETE FIRST WEEK OF THE 2018 FALL SOCCER SEASON WITH THREE WINS AGAINST NO LOSSES AFTER A 5-3 VICTORY OVER SALEM BAPTIST; 3-0-0 Overall, 0-0  Southern Piedmont Athletic Associ...