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^that 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