Match Recap: Hickory Christian Rebounds with Huge Win Against Davidson Day 8-2

Hickory, NC – September 24, 2020 – The Hickory Christian Academy’s varsity boys’ soccer team (3-1, 2-0) dominated the pitch for an 8-2 victory against conference foe Davidson Day on Thursday at Neill Clark.

Coming off a disappointing loss to Asheville School on Tuesday the Knights came into the game with a chip on their shoulders and were in the lead the entire 80 minutes. Hickory Christian would start the game with five unanswered goals for an important victory in the Foothills Athletic Conference regular season race.

Senior Garrison Mullis put the Knights in the scoring column first (minute 15) after the ball bounced off the right post, found the foot of junior Braden Runyon (assist) who then found Mullis to go up 1-0.

Mullis added a second goal (minute 18) with Runyon placing the ball out front that allowed Mullis’ cat-like quickness to break free up the middle for a one on one with the Patriots goalie. Just one minute later senior Ben Vazquez punched a deflection off the Patriots goalie into the back of the net that gave the Knights a 3-0 advantage just 19 minutes into the match. At minute thirty-seven junior Stephen Frye, who has been limited this season dealing with foot issues, blasted a shot into the back left of goal on an assist from senior Wyatt King and the Knights took a 4-0 lead into halftime.

Soon after the second half whistle blew, Mullis would fill the scoresheet again for a hat trick. For the third time in the game, Mullis was a recipient of a beautiful assist from Runyon (minute 41) giving the Knights a 5-0 cushion.

The Patriots got on the board at minute forty-seven but it didn’t take HCA long to counter. Junior Walker Harris spotted senior Dylan Morrison open in the middle, dropped the ball off and watched Morrison deliver a missile into the back of the net that the Patriots goalie stood no chance of stopping (minute 48) for a 6-1 lead. The Patriots would score their final goal in minute fifty-three setting the score at 6-2.

Not long after, the Knights were awarded a penalty kick and Coach Ramos called on senior Wyatt King and he didn’t disappoint. King left no doubt as he easily found the back of the net, giving his team a 7-2 margin. Senior Braden Whitford would pad the lead with a penalty kick in minute seventy-seven. The senior was rewarded for his tenacious work in the middle of the pitch throughout the contest and moved the Knights to a 8-2 and subsequent final score.

On a night when the relentless Knights attack would not be stopped, junior Braden Runyon looked like a delivery man on Christmas, racking up 3 assists on the day while senior Garrison Mullis pulled off the improbable hat trick, scoring 3 goals. Senior Wyatt King (1 goal, 1 assist) was balanced on the stat sheet.

Junior Walker Harris added valuable minutes on the offensive end for the Knights providing much needed ball control and passing (1 assist).

On the defensive side senior goalie Nate Walls showed steady hands and confronted the Patriot’s forwards while seniors Caleb McMurray and Chase Collins and junior Ian Benfield consistently cleared the ball easily.  Sophomores Hampton Query and Luke Alrutz, freshmen Cade Walls, Brock Bridle and Zach Clark all had their best defensive performances of their young varsity careers. Junior Michael Steinert who plays on both sides of the ball contributed solid minutes on the offensive end and finished the contest in goal.

Senior Garrison Mullis was the recipient of the HCA Battle Ball, an 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. In addition to his hat trick on the offensive side the senior played the second half as the Knights sweeper and performed admirably for the defense.

The Knights showed great teamwork, communication and poise in coming back in dominating fashion to redeem their early week loss.

Looking ahead, the Knights have a demanding week coming up with four contests in five days. They start the week off hosting Forsyth Homeschoolers at 4:00 on Monday at Neill Clark.