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MOORESVILLE The Lake Norman soccer team hasn't lost a playoff game in nearly three years.
Saturday night was more of the same as the Wildcats blanked Ragsdale 2-0 to move to the state semifinals for third straight season, where they will play Catholic.
“We only have one goal in mind every year (at Lake Norman),” Lake Norman senior Joe Hughes said, who has been a part of the two-time defending state championship team the past two seasons. “That is to win it all.”
After a sluggish first half, Hughes jumped-started the offense in the 48th minute, taking a pass from classmate Danny Coughlin and putting it in the back of the net for his 17th goal of the season and 1-0 lead.
Less than a minute later, Coughlin again found a wide-open Parker Cromie for another Lake Norman goal.
The Wildcats, No. 2 in the state, turned up the intensity in the second half when they attempted 13 of their 18 shots, including back-to-back goals and several near misses.
“I was very concerned how we warmed up and then how we came out in the first half,” Lake Norman coach Jon Mertes said. “We made some adjustments at halftime. We needed to be more aggressive.”
The defense was solid throughout. Lake Norman goalkeepers Nick Hensley and Dalton Bauer combined for Lake Norman's 10th shutout in the past 16 playoff contests.
Ragsdale (16-3-3), No. 7 in the state, lost for the first time since August.
