Hickory FC Takes Down Lubbock Matadors in Front of Nearly 5000 Fans, Advances to NPSL National Semifinals

Hickory, N.C.-- Hickory FC knew this South Regional Final wouldn’t be pretty—and the opening 45 minutes against the Lubbock Matadors proved it. From the opening whistle, the match carried the weight of two teams who understand exactly what’s at stake: a chance to punch their ticket to the NPSL national semifinals.

It didn’t take long for the tension to show. Just six minutes in, Hickory was given a scare when a late challenge at the edge of the box gifted Lubbock a dangerous free kick. The strike sailed high and wide, but the early moment set the tone. Both sides started pressing, tackles came harder, and by the 10th minute, there was already some shoving between players.

This wasn’t going to be a free-flowing, casual match—it was a scrap.

For Hickory, the first half felt like an exercise in knocking on the door but never quite finding the handle. They controlled much of the possession, doubled Lubbock’s shot total, and created moments that could have broken the deadlock. One of those chances came at the 25-minute mark, when a quick surge down the flank forced a deflection at the end line. Three straight corner kicks followed, each one carrying that “this could be it” energy. Each time, though, the Matadors held firm.

Then came the closest look of the half. In the 34th minute, Hickory earned a free kick just outside the box, angled to the right post. The delivery was driven perfectly into the area, and a quick deflection dropped the ball to Juan Pablo Correa, whose close-range shot was blocked by a Lubbock defender who threw himself in front of it.

For all Hickory’s control and relentless pace, the breakthrough never arrived.

At halftime, it remained 0-0—a familiar score line for Hickory FC in the latter part of this season.

The second half opened with a familiar rhythm—Hickory dictating possession, probing for space, and forcing Lubbock to chase. For the first 15 minutes, the story stayed the same: near misses, half-chances, and growing frustration.

Then, in the 62nd minute, the breakthrough finally came.

Hickory’s Maxime Wester found a pocket of space just outside the box and whipped in a cross with just enough pace to unsettle the Matadors’ back line. Antonio Pineda made the initial run, getting a touch to redirect the ball, and Alvaro Sanchez was there on the back post, timing his header perfectly to put Hickory FC ahead, 1-0.

From there, Hickory shifted gears.

They focused on defending and managing the clock, doing everything they could to protect their lead. Lubbock threw numbers forward and created a few tense moments late, but they couldn’t find the equalizer.

When the final whistle blew, Hickory FC had its 1-0 win—and with it, a ticket to the NPSL National Semifinals.

For the second straight week, Hickory FC found themselves walking the tightrope—and once again, they didn’t slip. This team is quickly earning the nickname “the cardiac kids,” surviving and thriving in matches that push every nerve to its limit.

Now, with a spot in the NPSL National Semifinals, Hickory’s rise feels like more than a string of results. In just their second year of existence, they’ve carried themselves with the grit and poise of a club that’s been here before.

Photo Credits: Bryson Smith/Hickory FC