Match Recap: Hickory Christian Advances to 2^nd Round Championship Match with Win Against Statesville Christian 4-2

Hickory, NC – October 13, 2020 – The Hickory Christian Academy’s boys’ soccer team (10-1, 6-0) overcame a sluggish first half of play and a 0-2 deficit to advance to the championship game of the Foothills Athletic Conference.

This would be the third matchup of the season between conference rivals Hickory Christian and Statesville Christian. The first two games resulted in two HCA wins, winning both by a narrow 2-1 margin.

The Lions from Statesville frustrated the Knights throughout half number one and went into the halftime break up 2-0. This would be the second straight contest which the Knights would get behind early but ultimately find their groove and come out with a win.

This was a game of two halves for both teams as the Lions went scoreless in the second half, a half that saw the Knights come alive with stellar play both on the offensive and defensive sides of the pitch, scoring four unanswered goals to secure a 4-2 victory.

The improved play in half number two is reflective of the Knight’s ability to turn it on when needed. Second year head coach Bruno Ramos shared some loving criticism of the Knight’s first half play during the break and his players responded his challenges by coming out with a vengeance and taking care of business.

Senior Wyatt King started off the scoring onslaught at minute forty-three off the assist from junior Walker Harris. King, who scored the game winning goal at minute seventy-eight of last Friday’s contest against Tabernacle Christian continued his stellar play. Harris followed up King’s goal at minute forty-five with an impressive lob of the ball that dropped behind the outstretched hands of Lions goalie Adam Cronce, giving the Knights a huge momentum swing to tie the score 2-2.

Senior Braden Whitford, who sat out most of the first half to nurse a quad injury, made an immediate impact, scoring off a corner kick at minute number fifty. His goal would be the third goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half and giving his team the first lead of the contest, 3-2. At minute sixty-five, senior Wyatt King scored on yet another corner kick, his second goal of the match and putting a dagger in the hopes of a Lions victory.

Junior Walker Harris 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. Harris, who finished with one goal and one assist has come on strong as of late giving he Knights additional firepower on the offensive end. The junior form Marion, NC who makes the 55-minute commute to school each day, is a team favorite and has grown in both his skill level and soccer IQ over the past three seasons with the program.

On the injury front, senior Garrison Mullis sat out the contest recovering from an MCL sprain and is looking to return to action next week. Sophomore Michael Steinert who is healing a broken finger was out for the second consecutive contest. Steinert looks to return for the state playoffs.

The Knights were joined for the second consecutive game by 8^th graders Kaleb Massey, Campbell Query, Andrew Ai and Hunter Duralia. Traditionally at the conclusion of the middle school season, the varsity coaches give an opportunity for upcoming 9^th graders to be a part of the varsity experience. All four provided the Knight’s some valuable minutes off the bench in their first varsity action of the 2020 campaign.

Looking ahead, the Knights host the championship game of the Foothills Athletic Conference tournament as they battle University Christian for the third time this season on Thursday at Neill Clark with a 4:00 start.