HIGH POINT, N.C. – On Tuesday night at Truist Point Stadium, the High Point University men's soccer team matched up against the Carolina Core FC in the Holden Trent Community Cup benefiting the Goal 13 Foundation.
"It is such a special occasion," HPU Head Coach
Zach Haines said. "The initiative that Goal 13 took to partner with us and the Carolina Core is going to help so many people and it's going to be a big deal for the community. I love the fact that we were able to be a part of it in our way to really launch it. I'm so excited about the future ahead."
The opening half was fairly uneventful with each team trading spells of possession with no real threat on goal. In the 20th minute, CCFC earned a free kick from 35 yards out, Jacob Evans whipped a ball into the box which found the head of Daniel Chica. His head beat HPU Goalkeeper
Josh Caron but Freshman
Aiden Bazzell saved the ball off the line to keep the game scoreless headed into halftime.
At halftime,
Jefferson Amaya was awarded the first recipient of the Holden Trent Memorial Scholarship, presented by Trent's family. Amaya has embodied excellent leadership skills on and off the field by being a great teammate and friend. He is known for lifting those around him and always working hard for his team.
In the second half, the Panthers asserted themselves pressing from the opening whistle, forcing the Foxes into several turnovers. HPU thought they had the breakthrough in the 60th minute when
Daniel Lugo took a
Brendan Krueger through ball and slotted it into the net but was ruled offside.
In the 66th minute HPU would get the eventual game-winner after a beautiful team goal through Krueger from
Alfred Baafi. After forcing a clearance inside of the CCFC penalty area, the Panthers combined for seven passes involving eight players. The movement ended with a clipped cross from Baafi to Krueger who scored from a diving header to give HPU the 1-0 lead. That lead took the game to full time as HPU was victorious on a night that was spent celebrating and honoring the late High Point men's soccer alumni, Holden Trent.
High Point will continue its spring soccer schedule as they head to UNC Greensboro on March 8 for a 4:00 p.m. kick.
For more information about the Holden Trent Goal 13 Foundation, go to
https://www.goal13foundation.org/
To view the Holden Trent Community Cup auction site, go to
https://www.32auctions.com/HoldenTrentCommunityCup
#GoHPU
