HIGH POINT, N.C. (WHKY) – The Hickory Metro was well represented Tuesday night as West Caldwell head coach Thomas Clark and recent graduates Joel Briones of West Caldwell and Josue Macias of Newton-Conover helped the West defeat the East 3-1 in the North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star boys soccer game at Truist Point.

Clark guided the West squad from the sidelines after leading West Caldwell to another successful season, while Briones and Macias earned roster spots following standout high school careers. Both local players were selected to the West roster, with Briones listed as a defender and Macias as a winger.

Macias made a memorable impact in the second half, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 51st minute. The Newton-Conover graduate found the back of the net on an unassisted strike that gave the West a 2-1 advantage after the teams entered halftime separated by a single goal. Macias finished with two shots, including one on target, in 44 minutes of action.

Briones also contributed to the victory, playing 53 minutes on the West back line as the defense limited the East to one goal. He recently completed an outstanding senior season at West Caldwell, where he totaled 32 goals and 21 assists while serving as team captain. Briones plans to attend Appalachian State and major in accounting.

The West struck first in the 10th minute when Fernando Hernandez scored off an assist from Aaron Avina. After the East answered with an equalizer from Adler Sauer in the 44th minute, Macias restored the West lead just over five minutes into the second half. Hernandez added his second goal of the night in the 73rd minute, again assisted by Avina, to provide the final 3-1 margin.

The West was outshot 10-9 but made the most of its opportunities, placing five shots on goal compared to four for the East. Goalkeepers Tanner Jackson and Solomon Triplett combined to make three saves in the victory.

For Macias, the all-star appearance capped an accomplished career at Newton-Conover. He finished with 15 career goals and 15 assists while earning All-Conference and All-Region honors and entered the game aspiring to continue his soccer career beyond high school.

The victory also served as a fitting conclusion to Clark’s week at the East-West Games, where he had the opportunity to coach many of North Carolina’s top graduating senior players, including two from his own region.