Latin, Catholic, Ardrey Kell are top teams

Every year, south Charlotte produces some of the best soccer talent in the state and Southeast.

This year, Charlotte Latin and Charlotte Catholic won their respective state titles, while Ardrey Kell lost in the finals to Raleigh's Leesville Road.

Latin (16-3, 6-2) won its fourth straight NCISAA 3A state title after coming in as the underdog for the first time in several seasons.

Charlotte Catholic (22-2-3, 12-0) also surprised, winning its first girls' state soccer title as a 3A team with a young roster.

Ardrey Kell (25-1, 14-0) won its first 25 games before losing to Leesville Road for the third time in four years.

At least one local team has played for a state title each of the last six years.

Charlotte Country Day (12-4-2, 8-0) became the first team to beat Latin in more than two years, sweeping the Hawks in the regular season to win the CISAA title before falling to them in the state semifinals.

Girls' soccer Coach of the Year: Gary Hoilett, Charlotte Catholic. Hoilett and the Charlotte Catholic girls' soccer team have been one of the best 3A teams in the state for most of the last decade.

While the Cougars have gone 144-13-17 in the last seven seasons, the accomplishment of a state title had eluded them.

This year, the Cougars beat Cardinal Gibbons 2-1 in the 3A title game in May.

Hoilett, who has coached the Cougars for last 15 years, had five state titles as a member of class 2A but had not won a championship since 2003 (2A).

"Every team wants to live up to what we have done in the past here at Catholic," Hoilett said earlier this season.

Hoilett and the Cougars might be just be getting started, as the Cougars return eight of 11 starters for the 2012 season, including all-state forward and MEGA 7 Player of the Year Jane Cline and all-state goalkeeper Morgan Luckie.

Girls' soccer Player of the Year: Liska Dobberstein, Ardrey Kell. Dobberstein and the Ardrey Kell girls' soccer team wanted to win a 4A state championship this year. While the Knights came up short, losing to Leesville Road for the third time in four years, they have a lot to proud of.

Dobberstein earned her second all-state honor and was all-region and Southwestern 4A Player of the Year after scoring 31 goals and dishing out 6 assists.

Things are just getting started for Dobberstein, as she will take her talents and prolific scoring ability to Clemson.