High Point Men’s Soccer Is No Longer a Secret
For years, High Point University men’s soccer quietly built one of the most consistent programs in the Southeast.
But now?
The secret is out.
The Panthers aren’t just Big South favorites anymore. They’ve become a legitimate national threat, stacking NCAA Tournament appearances, defeating top-ranked programs, and climbing into the top 10 of the national polls.
High Point was recently ranked as the No. 7 team in the nation, the highest ranking in both program and Big South Conference history.
🏗️ Building the Foundation
When Zach Haines was hired in 2019, he promised to elevate High Point’s ceiling.
Six seasons later, it’s safe to say he has delivered—and then some.
HPU has accumulated regular-season championships, conference tournament titles, NCAA Tournament appearances, and historic postseason victories.
The Panthers reached the NCAA Tournament in:
- 2018
- 2020
- 2022
- 2023
None of those moments were bigger than the 2022 postseason.
High Point traveled to Chapel Hill and stunned North Carolina with a commanding 2–0 victory, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
It was the kind of result that announced High Point’s arrival beyond the Big South.
Last season, the Panthers shook up the national landscape again.
This time, High Point took down the No. 1 team in the country, Pittsburgh.
On a historic night in the Steel City, the Panthers scored in the 22nd minute and protected the advantage for the remainder of the match.
The result delivered both High Point University’s and the Big South Conference’s first victory over a nationally ranked No. 1 team in any sport.
Despite that historic win and an impressive overall résumé, High Point suffered a difficult loss in the Big South Championship and was ultimately left out of the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection.
The Panthers believed they had been snubbed.
This fall, they’re showing the selection committee exactly why leaving them out was a mistake.
🔥 A 2025 Season Fueled by Momentum
Despite two losses to Gardner-Webb last season, including one in the Big South Championship match, the Panthers were once again selected as the preseason conference favorite.
That confidence was supported by the return of several nationally recognized stars, including:
- Daniel Lugo
- Jefferson Amaya
- Brendan Krueger
High Point opened the 2025 season with a statement victory in front of a packed Vert Stadium crowd on move-in weekend, dispatching Liberty and immediately setting the tone for the year.
Just days later, Lugo delivered one of the season’s defining early performances.
His brace powered the Panthers past nationally ranked Georgetown, producing one of the most impressive nonconference victories in program history.
From there, High Point remained firmly on the national radar.
The Panthers appeared in the TopDrawerSoccer and United Soccer Coaches polls week after week, steadily building a résumé that could no longer be ignored.
🥊 Battling the Nation’s Best
Nine games into the season, High Point remained unbeaten.
That record was not built against an easy schedule.
Earlier in the month, Panther supporters watched High Point battle No. 10 Marshall to a draw after Mo Guettel delivered a clutch equalizer.
Then came another heavyweight matchup against West Virginia.
Playing in Morgantown against another top-10 opponent, the Panthers stood tall again and earned their second consecutive draw against one of the nation’s premier programs.
Those results turned heads throughout college soccer.
By late September, High Point had entered the top 10 of the United Soccer Coaches poll for the first time in program history.
The Panthers then carried that momentum into conference play, cruising past Longwood with a commanding shutout and immediately establishing the standard for the Big South race.
🎓 Recruiting the Future
What separates High Point from many other mid-major programs is the consistency of its recruiting.
The Panthers have now signed six consecutive nationally ranked recruiting classes, bringing some of the country’s top prep, academy, national, and international talent to High Point.
From MLS NEXT standouts to players involved in United States youth national team pools, HPU has developed a legitimate pipeline of future stars choosing to play in purple and white.
Commitments such as high-upside striker Daniel Lugo, versatile midfielder Chris Niblock, and the Behrmann brothers demonstrate how the program is not simply reloading each season.
It’s upgrading.
National outlets have taken notice, regularly highlighting High Point’s ability to attract recruits who previously appeared destined for programs in the ACC, Big Ten, and other high-profile conferences.
That steady stream of talent has allowed the Panthers to sustain success without significant drop-offs.
It also explains why High Point enters every August not only as a Big South favorite, but as a program capable of punching with the nation’s best.
🌎 The Bigger Picture
What makes this run even more meaningful is the foundation beneath it.
This is not a flash-in-the-pan program.
It has been a steady and deliberate climb.
From the historic 2–0 NCAA Tournament victory at North Carolina, to toppling No. 1 Pittsburgh, to standing toe-to-toe with national powerhouses such as Marshall and West Virginia, High Point has repeatedly proven that it belongs among the elite.
Vert Stadium is also developing into one of the most intimidating environments in college soccer.
It has become a place where nationally ranked teams arrive expecting a battle and often leave frustrated.
With Haines at the helm, a roster loaded with talent, and elite recruiting classes waiting in the wings, the Panthers are no longer content with simply winning conference championships.
They have their eyes set on something bigger.
🔮 Final Verdict: Potential Has Become Proof
Located in the heart of a soccer-rich state, High Point’s men’s soccer program has always possessed enormous potential.
The Panthers can recruit throughout North Carolina while also attracting national and international players to world-class facilities and a rapidly growing university.
But potential is no longer the defining word.
Potential has become proof.
The victories are stacking up.
The national rankings are climbing.
The NCAA Tournament runs are becoming more frequent.
The recruiting classes continue to improve.
As the 2025 season unfolds, one thing is becoming increasingly clear:
The Panthers are here to stay, and the rest of college soccer better take notice.