A debut that announced his arrival
The Panthers opened their season with a commanding 5‑2 victory over LIU, a performance that turned heads across the Big South and set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown with the University of Virginia.
Freshman forward Nick Sarantakos, a Virginia native now back on familiar soil, broke onto the collegiate scene by scoring his first collegiate goal and delivering a precise heel‑flick assist to senior forward Alfred Baafi, who opened the scoring before halftime.
Sarantakos capped the match with the Panthers’ fifth goal in the 73rd minute, sealing a win that not only showcased his technical flair but also underscored the depth of talent on the High Point roster.
The upcoming clash with Virginia, scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. in Charlotte, pits the Panthers against a top‑20 opponent and offers Sarantakos a chance to further cement his impact on the conference.
His immediate contributions have already earned him the Big South Conference Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Week honor, a testament to the excitement he brings to the program and the expectations for a standout season.