The Knights earned a No. 1 playoff seed — and a bye — from the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference, finishing second overall to 2A East Lincoln in the eight-team league, and continued a strong campaign last Saturday with a 3-0 win over North Moore in the second round of the 1A state playoffs.

Not bad for a team that was 4-9-6 last year.

"We were looking to have a winning season," Valenti said following the second-round win. "That was the big thing because last year we were all over the place in terms of maturity, leadership as well as play on the field. In our fourth year together, I really feel like this program is starting to mature alongside the players."

The Knights were 16-3-2 entering Wednesday's third-round home match against Hendersonville (15-6-1), after press time.

Valenti said a key to the team's maturity has been the development of players such as Frank Silva and Gabe Sandoval.

"The seniors Frank and Gabe came in this year and really set the tone," said Valenti. "Now, they are pretty much running things."

The Knights had to overcome some strategy from North Moore to advance into the third round. North Moore opened the game by launching the ball into the Knights' defensive third as if it were kicking off in football.

Often keeping eight players behind the ball and rarely pushing its midfielders forward, North Moore limited the space for the Knights in the first half and kept the game scoreless until the 63rd minute, when Mustang keeper Juan Garcia couldn't hold on to a shot from LNC's Zach Quest. LNC striker Tommy Mikuleza was there for the rebound and put LNC ahead 1-0.

LNC added to its total seven minutes later on a Lawson Owen goal, which gave the Knights a comfortable cushion, and Ryan Jones finished the night's scoring.

"Sometimes it really is just going to come down to if it is a good day for finishing or a bad day," said Valenti. "The boys really stepped it up in the second half."