The High Point University men's soccer team finishes up its road schedule at USC Upstate on Saturday night. The Panthers currently sit at the top of league standings with 14 points, followed by Campbell's 13 and Upstate's 11.
High Point at USC Upstate
Saturday, October 29th | 7:00 PM
County University Soccer Stadium | Spartanburg, S.C.
Watch | Live Stats
Last Time Out
High Point dropped a 1-nil contest to Queens on Tuesday night in Vert Stadium.
Holden Trent made three saves as HPU outshot the Royals 16-13 while recording seven shots on goal.
High Point in the Big South Conference
The Panthers have found themselves in contention for a Big South Championship in each of the past three seasons with head coach
Zach Haines. During his time leading High Point, Haines has posted a 24-1-5 (.883) record in conference play, his only loss occurring in his first season in November 2019. In the three seasons prior to Haines' arrival, the Panthers posted a combined 19-2-3 (.854) record in Big South contests. HPU is also the only team to finish in the top-2 for the past six seasons and the only Big South team that boasts a winning record in each of the past 15 seasons.
High Point vs. USC Upstate
HPU has never lost a game to Upstate, recording an all-time record of 6-0-2 against the Spartans. The Panthers had won four in a row before last fall when the Spartans forced a 1-1 draw in High Point.
About the Spartans
Upstate is 5-5-4 on the season so far and 3-1-2 in Big South contests. The Spartans have picked up points in each of their last four games, defeating Presbyterian, Longwood, and Gardner-Webb before finishing with a 1-1 tie at Winthrop. Andrin Zumbohl leads the Spartans with four goals and 10 points this season while five other players have tallied multiple goals. Luca Bulfon has played all 14 matches in goal for Upstate, entering Saturday's match with a .756 save percentage, 1.43 goals against average, and three shutouts.
Kendall Named to National Team of the Week
High Point senior defender
Karson Kendall was featured on Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week after helping the Panthers to a 2-1 victory over No. 7 Maryland before scoring a goal in HPU's 5-0 shutout of Radford.
Four Panthers Make TDS Midseason Top 100
High Point University men's soccer was one of three programs in NCAA Division I, along with Pittsburgh and Maryland, to have four members recognized on Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason Top 100 List. TDS recognizes the Top 100 sophomores, juniors, and seniors in NCAA Division I on the list. Goalkeeper
Holden Trent notched the highest ranking for HPU, cracking the top-25 at No. 21. The Greensboro native was also the second-highest ranked goalkeeper.
Finn McRobb (64
th),
Kaya Ignacio (77
th), and
Sebastian Chalbaud (85
th) also made the list.
High Point Boasts Two Freshman on TDS Top 100
Jefferson Amaya and
Brendan Krueger were both recognized on Top Drawer Soccer's Top 100 Freshmen List earlier this week. Amaya, a midfielder from Huntersville, N.C., was ranked No. 124 by TDS in the Class of 2022 prior to the season and No. 44 overall player on the USL 2 Top-50 Prospect list. Appearing in 13 contest and making 10 starts for the Panthers this season, Amaya was ranked No. 7 on TDS' Top-100 Freshmen list with one goal and three assists. Krueger was a captain of Chargers SC in their MLS Next program prior to his time at HPU. The Clearwater, Fla., native has played in 12 matches for the Panthers and started the last nine. He's tallied four assists on the season, two against Radford before adding another at No. 7 Maryland, and was ranked as TDS' Midseason No. 54 Freshman.
Amaya Recognized on College Soccer News Team of the Week
Freshman
Jefferson Amaya was named to College Soccer News' National Team of the Week on Monday evening (October 17
th). The Panther midfielder scored the game-winning goal at Big South-rival Campbell on Wednesday, October 12
th. Taking a shot off a free kick in the 86
th minute, Amaya successfully evaded the Camel's three-man wall and goalkeeper, putting the ball in the bottom right corner of the net and giving HPU the 1-0 victory.
Trent Adds Another Defensive Player of the Week Award to Collection
Goalkeeper
Holden Trent was named the Big South Defensive Player of the Week on Monday afternoon (October 24
th). It is the fourth time Trent has been named the conference's defensive player of the week this season. Trent notched a shutout against UNC Asheville with one save while tallying three saves in HPU's 2-1 win over No. 7 Maryland last Monday night.
Trent, Amaya Pick Up Weekly Awards from Big South
Senior goalkeeper
Holden Trent picked up his third Defensive Player of the Week award of the season from the Big South Conference office on Monday afternoon (October 17
th) while freshman midfielder
Jefferson Amaya earned his first Freshman of the Week honor. Trent recorded his fourth shutout of the season and third-straight in regular season play against the Camels at Campbell on Wednesday, October 12
th, while also tallying one save in the 1-0 win. Amaya scored the game-winning goal off of a set piece in the 86
th minute, giving HPU three crucial points in the conference standings.
Trent Named to TDS Team of the Week
Senior goalkeeper
Holden Trent added another weekly award as he was recognized on Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week (October 4th). Trent posted a shutout at Elon in a 0-0 draw before helping HPU to a 5-1 win over Radford with four saves.
Holmes Repeats, Trent Joins Player of the Week Honors
Noah Holmes repeated as the Big South's Offensive Player of the Week while
Holden Trent was named the Defensive Player of the Week on Monday afternoon (October 3
rd). Holmes recorded his second brace in three matches in a 5-1 win over Radford while Trent made seven saves on the week while posting a shutout in a 0-0 draw with Elon, who was receiving votes in the latest top-25 poll.
Flurry of Goals Pushes Panthers Past Highlanders
High Point recorded five goals on Saturday night against Radford. Goal scorers for HPU were
Noah Holmes (2),
Karson Kendall,
Larson Rula, and
Sebastian Chalbaud. Kendall, Rula, and Chalbaud recorded their first goals of the season while Kendall and Rula tallied the first of their respective careers. In its three conference games played, HPU has scored 10 total goals. Freshmen
Brendan Krueger and
Aidan Abril were both credited with two assists apiece.
High Point, Haines Agree to Contract Extension
High Point University Vice President and Athletic Director Dan Hauser has announced a five-year contract extension for men's soccer head coach
Zach Haines on September 30th. Haines has compiled a 36-18-6 overall record in his time at the helm for HPU.
Holmes, McRobb Earn Player of the Week Nods
Panther forward
Noah Holmes was named the Big South Co-Offensive Player of the Week for this first time this season while
Finn McRobb picked up his second Defensive Player of the Week honor in as many weeks. Holmes recorded a brace at Winthrop while McRobb anchored the HPU back line with 86 minutes of action and one shot.
McRobb Named Big South Defensive Player of the Week
Junior
Finn McRobb was named the conference's defensive player of the week on Monday, September 19
th. McRobb scored the game-tying goal in the 48
th minute of action against Gardner-Webb on Friday night (September 16). He also played all 90 minutes of the contest to earn his first Big South weekly award of his career.
Pineda, Trent Earn First Weekly Awards
Forward Tony Pineda and goalkeeper
Holden Trent were named the Big South's Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, on August 29
th. Pineda scored the game-winning goal over Davidson and the game-tying goal at Georgetown while Trent tallied six saves on the week.
Pineda Placed on TDS Team of the Week
Top Drawer Soccer released its Team of the Week following its first week of regular season play. High Point senior forward Tony Pineda was among the 11 players on the team after scoring two goals in the opening week of play.
Trent Named Preseason Keeper of the Year
Holden Trent was voted the Big South's Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year after finishing last season with the league's best save percentage (.736). Trent allowed just 19 goals while recording 53 saves.
Panthers Tabbed Second in Preseason Poll
HPU was picked second in the Big South Preseason Coaches' poll behind 2021 tournament champion, Campbell. The Panthers received one first place vote in the poll behind the Camels' eight.
#GoHPU
