HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Big South Conference announced the 2023 Preseason All-Conference awards on Tuesday afternoon. The High Point University men's soccer team had five student-athletes named Preseason All-Conference with two being named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Noah Holmes (Preseason Offensive Player of the Year): Holmes had an outstanding 2022 season with the Panthers, taking them to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Holmes was also awarded the Big South Tournament MVP, Big South All-Tournament Team and Big South First Team All-Conference. Playing in 21 games in 2022, he led the team with 11 goals with three separate two-goal games. Holmes is going into the 2023 season as the captain of the Panthers and continues to be a key asset in the starting lineup day in and day out.
 
Finn McRobb (Preseason Defensive Player of the Year): McRobb is heading into the 2023 season as a captain of the Panthers with a stellar 2022 season in his back pocket. Being named to the Big South All-Conference First Team and Big South All-Tournament Team a season ago, McRobb was awarded with Preseason Defensive Player of the Year heading into the 2023 slate. Starting in all 21 matches for the Panthers in 2022, he made himself a known roadblock for the opposing team when faced up against on the pitch.
 
Jefferson Amaya: Amaya, who is going into his sophomore season with the Panthers, has already made a name for himself in High Point and around the Big South. Coming off a 2022 slate with five goals, four assists and 14 total points, Amaya was named Big South Freshman of the Year, Big South All-Freshman Team, and Big South First Team All-Conference. Amaya looks to replicate those stats and help push the Panthers to victory this upcoming year.
 
Aidan Abril: Abril has been named to the Big South Preseason All-Conference Team heading into the 2023 slate. Abril, a current redshirt sophomore, played in 18 matches starting five of them for the Panthers and named to the Big South All-Freshman Team after the completion of the 2022 season. In his first season, he netted two goals with three assists while being a key help to the Big South Tournament Champions.
 
Karson Kendall: Going into his fifth season with the Panthers as a grad student, Kendall was named to the Big South Preseason All-Conference Team. During the 2022 slate, he was named to the Big South Second Team All-Conference with two goals and one assists while being the big man on defense for the Panthers. Kendall looks to continue to be a brick wall as a defender heading into the 2023 season.
 
The Panthers start the 2023 slate at Davidson College on Thursday, August 24 as they look to go back-to-back as Big South Champions and make another run at the NCAA Tournament.