BACK IN TOWN
Hickory FC teases key returning players for 2026 season
Hickory's Tomas Pollacchi, 19, makes a play on the ball while a defender slides in for the block during a game between Hickory FC and Greenville United in June 2024.
Isai Jimenez-Luna plays soccer. He will be returning to Hickory FC for a second season this summer.
SOCCER
With the opening game of the 2026 USL2 season less than six weeks away, Hickory FC is releasing the names of some key returning players and newcomers for the club this year.
The announcements have come over social media over the last 11 days and include five players returning for their second summer in Hickory and five who will be back for their third.
Tomas Pollacchi, third season
Tomas Pollacchi has arguably been the face of the franchise over the past three years. The dynamic midfielder was the hero of Hickory's 1-0 conference championship win against Appalachian FC. He scored the winning goal with a minute left in extra time.
He did it again in the national semifinal, scoring what ended up being the difference maker in the second half. And then in the national championship match, he hit the short-handed game winner to hand El Farolito its first loss in more than two years and secure the championship.
Pollacchi is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He played for Emmanuel University in Georgia and is now an assistant coach at Lenoir-Rhyne.
Robbie Deighan, second season
Forward Robbie Deighan got the assist on Hickory FC's opening goal in both the national semifinal match and the national championship game.
Deighan is from Bolton, England, and has played two seasons at Chowan University. He has made 21 starts in 27 games and scored five goals and three assists in his time at Chowan.
Daniel Miklosi, third season
Goalkeeper Daniel Miklosi was arguably the biggest key to Hickory FC's postseason run last summer. After starting goalkeeper Jasper Rump signed to play in Germany, Miklosi stepped into the net for Hickory. He led the club to the national title game, where he limited El Farolito to two goals as Hickory handed them their first loss in more than two years.
Miklosi is from Hungary and is a sophomore at Lincoln Memorial. He has already logged more than 3,000 minutes in goal over his two seasons with a .751 save percentage and 12 shutouts.
Harri Rowe, second season
Defender Harri Rowe was a key piece of last summer's championship run. His defense helped Hickory hold opponents off the board all summer and he was versatile, often throwing in and taking corner kicks.
Rowe is from Aberystwyth, Wales. He was an all-conference and all-region player during his four years at Lenoir-Rhyne from 2021-2024. He scored 11 goals and 21 assists in 62 starts for the Bears.
Charlie Naylor, second season
Defender Charlie Naylor is back for his second year in Hickory. Naylor is from London and was a standout defender at West Virginia Wesleyan from 2020-2022.
Since then, he has played for the Dover Athletic Club and Chatham Towne FC in the United Kingdom.
Tate Asante, third season
Midfielder Tate Asante is back for another round in Hickory. Asante is from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and said his favorite thing about Hickory is the community, the families and the fans who come to the games.
Asante is a sophomore at UNC Charlotte. He scored two goals and three assists in 14 games for Charlotte last fall.
Ronan O'Mahony, second season
Midfielder Ronan O'Mahony was a key in last summer's national championship run. He hit the go-ahead goal in Hickory FC's national semifinal win over Ristozi FC.
O'Mahony is from Malaga, Spain, and has played four years at Lincoln Memorial. He has scored nine goals and 12 assists for LMU over 47 career starts.
Isai Jimenez-Luna, second season
Goalkeeper Isai Jimenez-Luna adds some local flavor to the squad. He is from Morganton and is a 2025 graduate of Patton High School. He was a standout for the Panthers and also played for the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club Boys Academy team in the Elite Club National League.
He moved up to backup goalkeeper after starting goalkeeper Jasper Rump signed to play professional soccer in Germany last June.
Leo Suza, third season
Defender Leo Suza is back for his third summer in Hickory. Suza is from Maringa, Brazil, and played one year for Coker where he made 12 starts in 17 games.
Jonah Straube, third season
Defender Jonah Straube is from Lithuania and is back for his third season in Hickory. Straube has played for the University of Houston-Victoria and, last fall, played for Winthrop, where he started 10 of the 11 games he appeared in.
Jason Koon is the Sports Editor for the Hickory Record and can be reached at jason.koon@lee.net.
