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Nugent: 'It was a huge three points for us'

Head Coach Chris Nugent during a training session in High Point, North Carolina

Head Coach Chris Nugent believes our win at Truist Point was a 'huge shift of momentum' and added that the team's fight and character in front of a big, hostile crowd will be crucial going into the final games of the season.

Tate Robertson's late penalty kick was enough to earn Chattanooga FC all three points against Carolina Core FC at Truist Point on Saturday night.

The team held on in the latest edition of the Battle of the Independents and secured a crucial victory in the Eastern Conference.

"It's huge," said Head Coach Chris Nugent. "We obviously haven't had a clean win for a couple of months now, so to get back on the win column was huge for us. We've felt like we deserved to win a couple of games recently, but they just went the wrong way, so to be able to grind it out, get a goal late on and to deal with the onslaught at the end was big for us. It's a huge shift of momentum, so I'm really pleased.

"When we were pressing and building in the way we had focused on, we were really good. We didn't create as many chances as we would've liked, but we defended around our goal excellently and we made some good adjustments as the game went on. The fight from the guys, in front of a big crowd, was big for us. There are times we play well and don't get the result and vice versa and there's nights like tonight where it's not always pretty but we do enough to win and that's a big three points for us going into the final games of the season."

Nugent also spoke about the instant impact made by the team's latest two signings, Luke Husakiwsky and Anthony Garcia.

"Luke's been in with us for two weeks now, so we knew that he was going to come in and help us have an immediate impact. The same goes for Anthony. It was a bit early to give them both starts, but we saw the quality of them and we knew that they could fill in some of the areas we were lacking at times. Luke was excellent, came in at midfield and really helped change the game to start with and then he moved back to center-back, all in his professional debut. Carolina sometimes play with two forwards, they go direct at times, which can be difficult, so to see him [Luke] come out in front of a big crowd and be steady was huge for us.

"Anthony looked dangerous when he got on. He got into the box multiple times. He was very difficult for their backline. He obviously had a huge impact in getting the penalty and the sending off of their player. He also showed good ability to hold up the ball, so I'm really excited to see both of them continue to grow into the team and have an even bigger impact."

Chattanooga FC midfielder Luke Husakiwsky in action against Carolina Core FC on August 16, 2025

Nugent spoke to the significance of gaining advantage in the overall head-to-head record with independent rivals Carolina Core (3W-2L-0D).

"I think it's important to have a better head-to-head with every team obviously. The next game you play is always the most important one. It's nice to come back to North Carolina and win and to beat the other independent club, because whether we like it or not, we are getting judged as the two independent sides. If we can beat everyone head-to-head throughout the season, we're going to have a really good year. The timing of this win was huge for us, no doubt. To beat Core and be in the lead in the head-to-head is great and hopefully we can seal that off next month when they come to us."

Robertson also spoke about the result and the impact it could have for the remainder of the season.

"It was really important. We hadn't got a result like that in a couple of months—it's been a tough run of form for us. We were in the game and it was nice to get the penalty and put the team ahead. I do feel it could be a momentum changer for us. We needed three points any way we could get them, good, bad or ugly. It wasn't perfect by any means, but we dug in. Anthony [Garcia] got us a penalty and I was lucky enough to convert it. Now it's onto next weekend against Huntsville City."

CFC will now look forwad to returning home to Finley Stadium for a crucial Southeast Division match against Huntsville City on Saturday, August 23 with kick-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. Tickets are on sale here.