The High Point University men's soccer team is set to meet No. 5 Stanford in second round action of the NCAA College Cup. Kickoff on Sunday evening is set for 8:00 p.m. (ET) in the first meeting between the Panthers and the Cardinal.
 

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High Point at No. 5 Stanford – Second Round NCAA Tournament
Sunday, November 20^th | 8:00 PM (ET)
Cagan Stadium | Palo Alto, Calif.
Watch | Live Stats | Bracket | Tournament Program | Championship Information
 
Last Time Out
High Point defeated North Carolina, 2-0, on Thursday afternoon in its first NCAA Tournament win in program history. The win also marks the third institution win in an NCAA Tournament and the first for a men's program. After a scoreless first half, the Panthers were the first to strike in the 51^st minute as freshman Jefferson Amaya connected on a set piece just outside the penalty area. Just five minutes later, Larson Rula moved the ball up the field and found his brother, Holland Rula, in the corner who delivered a cross to the far post where Noah Holmes met the ball in the box and sent it to the bottom right corner to give HPU the commanding 2-0 lead.
 

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High Point in the NCAA Tournament
The Panthers are making their third NCAA postseason appearance, after earning selections for the 2018 and 2020 tournaments. The 2022 season will mark the first true away match for HPU in the NCAA Tournament after hosting James Madison in 2018 before playing a neutral site game in 2020 with No. 8 Georgetown at Matthews Sportsplex.
 
HPU picked up its first Tournament win in program history on Thursday afternoon with a 2-0 shutout of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Panthers limited the Tar Heels to just two shots on goal in the match, both in the first half, while UNC outshot HPU 11-5 in total shots.
 

56' | 2-0 LEAD!! Rula ?? Rula ?? Holmes!!!!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/Naj9V5h6l1

— High Point University Soccer (@HPUMSOCCER) November 17, 2022

56' | 2-0 LEAD!! Rula ?? Rula ?? Holmes!!!!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/Naj9V5h6l1

— High Point University Soccer (@HPUMSOCCER) November 17, 2022

 
High Point vs. Stanford
Sunday evening's game will mark the first matchup between the Panthers and the Cardinal. HPU will play its first NCAA Tournament game outside of the state of North Carolina on Sunday. In 2018, the Panthers hosted James Madison before 2020's second round game against Georgetown was played at Sportsplex in Matthews, N.C. This will also be High Point's first game played against a west coast-based opponent.
 
About the Cardinal
Stanford is 11-2-5 on the season and finished PAC-12 play with a 4-2-4 record. The Cardinal return to the NCAA Tournament after missing a tournament berth in 2021. In seven of the last 10 seasons, Stanford has hosted at least one NCAA Tournament match.
 
Stanford outscored opponents 39-16 this season, as Shane de Flores led the Cardinal with 17 points on seven goals and three assists. Four other Cardinal also chipped in double-digit point totals, including Carlo Agostinelli who led Stanford with eight assists. Head coach Jeremy Gunn is in his 10^th season at Stanford, leading the program to three straight NCAA Championships from 2015-17.
 

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— High Point University Soccer (@HPUMSOCCER) November 17, 2022

 
High Point's Path to the NCAA Tournament
High Point men's soccer won its second Big South Tournament in three seasons as Noah Holmes recorded a brace and claimed league honors as the Tournament MVP. Holden Trent, Finn McRobb, and Sebastian Chalbaud joined Holmes on the All-Tournament Team. HPU's automatic bid secured the program's third overall NCAA Tournament berth after the Panthers earned an at-large bid in 2018 before its first Big South Tournament Championship in the 2020 spring season.
 

CHAMPS ????#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/hYcYcszEL0

— High Point University Soccer (@HPUMSOCCER) November 13, 2022

 
High Point Nationally Impactful
Graduate student Noah Holmes currently ranks tied for 11th in game-winning goals among Division I players. Holmes' four game winners came in games against Coastal Carolina, Winthrop, UNC Asheville, and the conference championship game at Campbell. Holmes is also tied for 12th in NCAA DI total goals (11) and 30th in goals per game (0.55).
 
Senior goalkeeper Holden Trent is tied for 9^th in shutouts among NCAA Division I players. Trent has tallied eight shutouts on the year in games against Davidson, Elon, Presbyterian, Campbell, UNC Asheville, Longwood, and the Big South Championship against Campbell. He recorded his eighth shutout and High Point's first shutout in an NCAA Tournament game as the Panthers posted the 2-0 win over North Carolina on Thursday. Trent also ranks sixth among active NCAA Division I goalkeepers in solo shutouts with 22 shutouts through his three seasons starting in goal for the Panthers.
 
This Season with the Panthers
High Point finished the regular season with a 8-4-5 overall record and 5-0-3 in conference play. Despite not dropping a Big South game, the Panthers finished as runners up in regular season play and drew the No. 2 seed heading into the conference tournament. In the opening round of postseason, HPU hosted No. 3-seed USC Upstate at Vert Stadium. Noah Holmes helped HPU to a solid start, scoring the first goal in the 21st minute with assists being credited to Holland Rula and Finn McRobb. From there, HPU recorded two goals from Jefferson Amaya and Ashton Perkins over the next 20 minutes to take a commanding 3-0 lead into halftime.
 
After a red card forced the Panthers to play the last 35 minutes of the match down a man, High Point stuck together defensively to hold Upstate scoreless through 89 minutes of play, but the Spartans capitalized on a ball that was deflected in the box by a Panther defender in the final minute. The damage had been done, and High Point advanced to the Big South Championship for the fourth consecutive season with a 3-1 victory.
 
Despite its regular season game not being decided until the 83rd minute of play, High Point got out to a much quicker start in the Big South Championship against Campbell. Holmes once again was the one to put HPU on the board in the 11th minute of play as the Panthers dominated possession and pace of play to open the game. Holmes recorded his fourth brace of the season as he scored again in the 80th minute. Jackson Ruckman, Kaya Ignacio, and Larson Rula were credited with assists in the match while Holden Trent made two saves on the night as HPU limited Campbell to one shot on goal in each half.
 
Ten Panthers Garner Conference Honors
High Point brought home a plethora of Big South awards and recognition as the league released its All-Conference honors and awards on November 4^th. Holden Trent headlined as the conference's Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight season in the second year the honor has been awarded. Jefferson Amaya was also named the Big South Freshman of the Year after scoring three goals and passing out one assist in conference play. Amaya was also the only freshman to earn First Team All-Conference honors. Head coach Zach Haines was also named the Coach of the Year for the first time since his arrival in High Point.
 
All-Big South First Team
Noah Holmes, Gr., F
Sebastian Chalbaud, Sr., M
Jefferson Amaya, Fr., M
Finn McRobb, Jr., D
Holden Trent, R-Sr., GK
 
All-Big South Second Team
Lalas Ayertey, Sr., D
Karson Kendall, Sr., D
 
All-Freshman Team
Jefferson Amaya, M
Brendan Krueger, M
Aidan Abril, M
 
All-Academic Team
Cooper Lindfelt, Jr., D
 
Dynamic Duo Holds Down Defense
Redshirt senior Holden Trent and junior Finn McRobb have only conceded nine goals in their Big South regular season careers. This season, the two led HPU to a 5-0-3 record in Big South play while allowing four goals on 19 shots on goal.
 
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.