Players for the Hickory FC semi-professional men’s soccer team celebrate after defeating El Farolito to win the National Premier Soccer League championship on Aug. 2 at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. After capturing a national title in only its second year of existence, Hickory announced on Dec. 3 that it will be moving up to USL (United Soccer League) League Two for the 2026 season.
After two years in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), highlighted by a national title this past summer, the Hickory FC semi-professional men’s soccer team announced on Dec. 3 that it will be moving up to USL (United Soccer League) League Two for the 2026 season.
Hickory won the NPSL Southeast Conference title and reached the semifinals of the South Region playoffs in its inaugural season in 2024 before posting an overall record of 15-1-1 (including friendlies) and a 14-0-1 mark against NPSL opponents in 2025. The squad ultimately defeated top-seeded El Farolito by a 3-2 score in the national championship match on Aug. 2 at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.
Hickory’s chief rival in the NPSL, Appalachian FC out of Boone, also recently announced that it will compete in USL League Two in 2026. Founded in 1995, USL League Two has had hundreds of players reach the professional level and now consists of more than 140 clubs across the United States and Canada.
The 2026 USL League Two season begins in May, and Hickory will be a member of the league’s Eastern Conference. Clubs play 12 to 14 regular-season matches, with the playoffs starting in late July and finishing in early August.
“Following our 2025 NPSL National Championship, Hickory FC is proud to take the next step in our club’s growth by joining USL League Two for the 2026 season,” Hickory FC Vice President of Operations Jonathan Rink told USLLeagueTwo.com. “This decision reflects our long-term commitment to elevating the level of football in our region while staying true to the values that define us — family, community, and excellence on the pitch. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our fans, partners, and the City of Hickory, and we look forward to representing our community on a larger stage as we continue building a club that will make this region proud.”
Hickory is coached by Carlos Rubio, who has also been the head coach of Lenoir-Rhyne’s men’s soccer team since February 2023 and was named the 2025 NPSL Coach of the Year. The team plays its home contests at L-R’s Moretz Stadium.
Notable players on Hickory’s 2025 roster included Select Sport America NPSL Golden Ball winner Antonio Pineda — the Golden Ball is awarded to the NPSL’s most outstanding player — and 2025 Patton High School graduate Isai Jimenez, while Morganton resident Dillon Smith is one of the club’s co-owners.
Tomas Pollacchi was another key player for Hickory this past summer, as he earned Man of the Match honors for his performance in the national title match.
GOLF
Straka finishes 3rd at Hero World Challenge
Sepp Straka found success in his first PGA Tour event since August, as the 32-year-old golfer whose caddie Duane Bock is a longtime Morganton resident came in third during the Hero World Challenge Dec. 4-7 at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas.
Straka finished behind only Alex Noren and Hideki Matsuyama, the latter of whom won the tournament on the first playoff hole after tying Noren with a four-day total of 266 (22-under-par).
Thanks to a 66 in the first round, a 69 in the second round, a 64 in the third round, and a 68 in the final round, Straka completed the event with 267 total strokes, one shot behind the aforementioned pair.
Ranked 12th in the latest Official World Golf Rankings, Straka previously helped Team Europe defeat the U.S. squad in the 45th Ryder Cup matches Sept. 26-28 at the Bethpage Black course on Long Island in New York, and his recent third-place finish represented the sixth time that the Austrian has finished in the top 10 this year and the fourth time that he has finished third or better (including two victories).
Josh McKinney can be reached at 828-445-8595 or josh@thepaper.media.
