KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Three High Point University men's soccer players have earned United Soccer Coaches All-South Region honors as announced by the organization this week. It's the most selections for the Panthers since 2022 when four were honored, while it marks 21 all-region selections under HPU Head Coach Zach Haines dating back to 2019.
 
In all, the Panthers have 38 all-region selections since 2008.
 
Daniel Lugo was tabbed with a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-South Region nod for his first all-region accolade, while Jefferson Amaya earned his fourth straight All-South Region honor with second team recognition as Lukas Kamrath received his first United Soccer Coaches All-South Region award with a third team placement.
 
The Panthers had the most all-region players in the Big South Conference with three and Triad as UNC Greensboro had two and Gardner-Webb had one.
 
The trio was at the forefront of HPU's best season in program history that featured the school's highest NCAA Tournament national seed (#10), first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance and 14-2-4 record. The Panthers cruised to an undefeated conference record (9-0) and held the best goal differential in Big South history (30-1) with two trophies to show for. Amaya, Lugo and Kamrath are all at the MLS College Showcase representing High Point for the most invitees attended before being up for selection at the MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.
 
Jefferson Amaya, Midfielder
Amaya's career in Purple & White will be one etched in the record books. The senior has left his mark, becoming the first player in conference history to ever win a different major award in four straight seasons: Big South Freshman of the Year (2022), Big South Offensive Player of the Year (2023) and Big South Defensive Player of the Year (2024) while earning four straight all-region, all-academic, and all-conference nods as a top No. 26 player in the country. During his four-year career, he started in 64 of 66 appearances while scoring 17 goals and assisting on 20 for 54 points. The Charlotte native netted eight game-winning goals and was a perfect 6-for-6 on penalty kick attempts in over 5,000 minutes. Amaya was a part of the Panthers' first NCAA Tournament win — a 2-0 victory over North Carolina in the 2022 first round — as well as the first round of 32 win — a 3-2 victory over West Virginia in the 2025 second round — for the program's first Sweet Sixteen appearance.
 
Daniel Lugo, Forward
In one season at High Point, Lugo has made his presence known. Transferring to High Point from North Carolina, the redshirt sophomore striker made an immediate impact, starting in 19 of 20 games while scoring 14 goals — with a single-season program best seven game-winning scores — and assisting on five for a team and conference-leading 33 points in 1,191 minutes played.
 
The Floridan has racked up the accolades in one season as the Big South Offensive Player of the Year, Big South Newcomer of the Year, Big South Tournament MVP, Big South First Team member, TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year, and TDS Player of the Year Finalist after being named a TDS Midseason Top 100 Player at No. 31.
 
Lukas Kamrath, Defender
In two seasons, Kamrath has started in 34 of 35 appearances while scoring five goals — two game-winning scores — and assisting on one in nearly 3,000 minutes. The Floridan, who transferred to High Point from Notre Dame in 2024, has been a consistent anchor behind his scoring ability and defensive stance in helping register 16 clean sheets.
 
The Big South Defensive Player of the Year premiered on SportsCenter for an incredible header save against top-ranked Marshall in 2025, and has been a constant all-conference force.