KNIGHTS OVERCOME INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS IN WIN OVER ASHEVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, NC; 6-2 SCORE; 2-2-0 Overall, 0-0 Foothills Athletic Conference  

ASHEVILLE, NC- August 15^th, 2019 – Battling 90+ degree heat, still missing 3 key players from the team and most dauntingly without assistant coach Daryl Carter, the Knights did the unthinkable, taking down 3A power Asheville Christian Academy for the first time in 5 matchups. 

The Knights, who had found their groove in the previous weekend’s tournament got on the board early in the 8^th minute when Junior Hugo Fournie found fellow Junior Garrison Mullis with a long through ball in which Garrison neatly slid past a diving ACA keeper.   Although possession was fairly equal throughout the half, the Knights were far more dangerous in capitalizing on their opportunities.  Sophomore Braden Runyon got the Knights going again with a heroic steal from ACA’s center back and then muscled his way in to beat the keeper in the 25^th minute.

Heading into the second half the Knights from Hickory NC held a 2-0 advantage. 

Just seven minutes into the second half, the Knights all but secured a victory when Garrison Mullis collected a long ball down the right line, played a beautiful ball into Braden Runyon, who one touched a curling eighteen yard strike around the outstretched hands of the ACA keeper.  Mullis didn’t stop there with a dominating performance when he collected a rocket shot off of the cross bar from Hugo Fournie.  In the 66^th minute, Garrison calmly settled the ricochet and finished a perfectly placed strike to the lower right side of the net.  With a 4-0 lead, the Knights relaxed a bit and quickly gave up 2 goals at the 71^st and 72^nd mark to a very dangerous ACA team.  This created a wakeup call and sense of urgency that spurred Sophomore Walker Harris forward to score his first goal of the season in the 74^th minute off of a follow up shot.  Braden Runyon then finished the scoring when he headed home a cheeky chip cross from fellow Sophomore Stephen Frye.  Braden finished the contest with 3 goals, bringing his total scoring to 9 for the season.

Junior Garrison Mullis 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. Mullis, who turned into Mr. Offense on this night with two goals, one assist and countless exposure of the ACA defense showed just how dangerous an attacker he will be the rest of the season for the Knights.

The Knights return to action with an away game against Northside Christian on Tuesday August 20TH. The contest is slated to begin at 4:00 pm.