HICKORY FC WINS SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE TITLE 1-0 AGAINST APPALACHIAN FC IN EXTRA TIME, PUNCHES TICKET TO NPSL REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

Hickory, N.C.-- It’s one of the oldest clichés in sports for a reason: It’s tough to beat the same team three times in a season. Especially when that third matchup comes in a win or go home situation — and the opposing team happens to be your fiercest rival.

On a humid Saturday night at Moretz Stadium, that adage proved prophetic as Hickory FC squared off with Appalachian FC in a playoff clash brimming with history, tension, and blood — literally.

The two teams, familiar foes from the 2024 season and two earlier matchups this year, entered the contest with contrasting motivations: Hickory aiming for a third consecutive win over the Boone-based club in 2025, and Appalachian FC seeking revenge for last year’s Conference Championship loss in Boone.

From the opening whistle, it was clear that this was going to be a trench war, not a track meet.

The first half devolved quickly into a gritty, physical match, where space was at a premium and every touch was highly contested.

Neither side managed to find a rhythm offensively, and scoring chances were few and far between.

Hickory FC mustered just two shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes, both of which failed to trouble the Appalachian FC keeper.

The more dangerous of the two came in the 40th minute, when a defensive lapse by Appalachian left Hickory FC’s Maxime Wester with a golden opportunity. A loose ball deflected into his path, and with only the keeper to beat, Wester surged into open space.

But instead of breaking the deadlock, his shot clanged off the crossbar — the kind of moment that lingers in a playoff setting.

Meanwhile, the physicality ratcheted up with each passing minute. Inadvertent elbows left multiple players from both sides bloodied, as tempers flared and challenges got heavier.

Yet despite the chaos, the scoreboard remained untouched — 0-0 at the break.

If the first half was tight, the second was even more clenched. The fouls piled up, the cards started flying, and the tension on the pitch matched the weight of the moment.

Five yellow cards were issued in the second half alone, and the chippy energy that lingered in the first half began to make its way into the crowd as well.

Appalachian came out the aggressor after halftime, pressing high and consistently putting Hickory on its heels.

Appalachian tallied three shots on goal within the first nine minutes of the second half, finally testing Hickory’s back line and keeper in a way they hadn’t in the first. In the 67th minute, it was Appalachian FC’s turn to hit the crossbar — a looping effort that gave the away fans a jolt of energy before it bounced harmlessly out of play.

Still, no breakthrough.

By the 80th minute, tension gripped every corner of the stadium. Coaches were up on every call, fans leaned forward with every challenge, and players leaned on months of preparation and training to make one last push.

But when the final whistle of regulation blew, it was still 0-0. Ninety minutes of sweat and near-misses — and nothing to show for it yet.

Into extra time we went, and the script didn’t change much. Possession swung back and forth, both sides cautious but desperate — knowing that a brief lapse of judgement could end it all. As the clock crept into the 28th minute of extra time, it felt like penalties were inevitable.

Then came the breakthrough.

Hickory FC pushed forward with purpose, working the ball wide and whipping in a final, hopeful cross. Waiting in the right place at the perfect time was Tomas Pollacchi.

With defenders scrambling and the season on the line, Pollacchi calmly buried it — sending the ball into the back of the net and Moretz Stadium into bedlam.

All 5,758 fans exploded as one. After 128 minutes of unnerving tension and near-misses, Hickory had finally broken through.

With the 1-0 win, Hickory FC sealed the Southeast Conference title and now secures its spot in the NPSL Regional Playoffs.

All that’s left to say: the dream lives on in Hickory, North Carolina.

Photo Credit: Bryson Smith and Chris Von Drehle/ Hickory FC