Cardinal Gibbons wins 7th NCHSAA boys soccer title, denies Myers Park a second
After a scoreless first half, Cardinal Gibbons knew it had to ratchet up the pressure a bit if it was going to collect its seventh state soccer title.
Mission accomplished.
The Crusaders netted three goals in the second half to stun the Myers Park Mustangs, 3-0, in the NCHSAA boys 4A soccer state championship at WakeMed Soccer Field.
The win secured for Gibbons its seventh championship in nine appearances in the final. Myers Park, making its eighth finals appearance, was denied is second state title.
“All championships are special,” Cardinal Gibbons head coach Tim Healy said. “They all have their story, but during this year (and) during all the things these guys had to go through, this one will always be one of my fondness memories.”
A tough battle between Cardinal Gibbons’ technically skilled midfielders and Myers Park’s tough defenders came down to a second half of aggression and stingy defense to seal the victory.
The Crusaders capitalized on the Mustangs’ spacing and positioning with quick, precise passing to move the ball down the field. Myers Parks’ height advantage was apparent — and problematic for the Crusaders — in the opening period after losing many 50/50 balls in the box. Gibbons controlled possession of the ball early, but was unable to get past the Mustangs’ defenders, who until Saturday hadn’t allowed a single goal in their postseason run.
Just before the half, the Crusaders had two chances to put the first points of the game on the board, but an offside call and last-minute recovery from Mustangs keeper Martin Goodwin Jr. kept the score tied going into the half.
“We knew that they were really strong and really well-organized defensively,” said Healy. “We just had to keep doing what we’re doing and our movement off the ball had to be a little bit better but we liked where we were going into the half.”
Gibbons entered the second half with a more aggressive approach, and it paid off with a pair of goals, one each from sophomore Luke Lillis and junior Brendan Peeples.
The Mustangs tried to mount a comeback, and showed a renewed sense of urgency, with more possessions in the Crusaders’ end, the Cardinal Gibbons defense was equal to the task.
Gibbons sealed the win after a handball violation in the box led to a free kick conversion by Dean Mercer to cap the scoring.
Three who mattered
Luke Lillis, Cardinal Gibbons: The sophomore defender was a key clog on defense end and accounted for a key goal early in the second half.
Martin Godwin, Myers Park: Despite the two goals, the senior goalkeeper made some key stops earlier on after shutting out each playoff opponent before Saturday.
Dean Mercer, Cardinal Gibbons: His free kick late in the second period sealed the championship victory for his team.
Worth mentioning
▪ Myers Park’s last state championship appearance was in 2018. They have now lost their past five appearances. Myers Park lost 4-1 to Green Hope in the 2018 finals.
▪ This was Cardinal Gibbons’ ninth championship appearance. Its most recent win was in 2017, when the Crusaders won the 4A championship over another Mecklenburg County team. Gibbons beat Hough that year, 2-1.
▪ Gibbons’ Tim Healy became the first boys soccer coach in NCHSAA history to win multiple state championships in three different classifications, having won a pair of 2A and 4A titles to go with his three 3A crowns.
RECORDS: Cardinal Gibbons (14-2-1), Myers Park (12-1-1)
Scoring Summary
Cardinal Gibbons 0 3 — 3
Myers Park 0 0 — 0
CG: Luke Lillis score (assisted by Cole Shelton)
CG: Brendan Peeples score (unassisted)
CG: Dean Mercer score (free kick)
Girls Lacrosse: East Chapel Hill takes 1A/2A/3A girls
East Chapel Hill beat Weddington 14-8 to win the girls 1A/2A/3A state championship Saturday.
East Chapel Hill scored three goals in the eight minutes and ultimately got five goals from Riley Ellis and four from Talia Zuco. East Chapel Hill won its second state title and Zuco was named championshp MVP.
Weddington finished the season 17-2 and reached the state championship for the first time in program history.
East Chapel Hill finished the season 16-2.
Boys Lacrosse: Marvin Ridge takes 1A/2A/3A state title
Marvin Ridge jumped on East Chapel Hill early and ran away for a 14-6 win in the 1A/2A/3A state final.
Marvin Ridge scored three times, all from Emmett Houlihan, in the first three minutes. The Mavericks added three more scores in the opening frame.
Houlihan and Reid Smith each scored three goals and had an assist in the first half. Houlihan was selected as the match’s Most Valuable Player finishing with six goals and two assists in the game.
East Chapel Hill finished the season 10-5, returning to the state final for the first time since 2018,
Marvin Ridge ended the season at 15-3 and won its second state title. The other came in 2016 when the Mavericks beat Carrboro 16-3.
3A Soccer: Weddington wins the crown
Weddington beat New Hanover 2-1 in overtime to win the 3A state title Saturday night.
Weddington scored the game-winning goal just 18 seconds into the first overtime, then the Warriors held off a major charge from New Hanover to win its second state title.
Tucker Robinson scored Weddington’s first goal and New Hanover’s Aidan Payne tied the game.
In overtime, Jacob Wells scored the game winner and earned championship MVP.
New Hanover finished the season 15-1-0, returning to the state championship for the first time since 2008.
Weddington (16-1-1) was in the finals for the second time and first since winning the title in 2015.
1A Soccer: Pine Lake Prep takes title
Pine Lake Prep beat Franklin Academy 3-1 in overtime to win the 1A state title. The game was delayed 21/2 hours due to weather.
Championship MVP Jayden Deku had the first goal of the game and another to break a 1-1 tie in overtime.
The two teams made it through regulation time tied at 1-1 before thunderstorms stopped play.
In the first overtime, neither team scored. In the second, Deku was on the receiving end of a feed from Andrew Kuechler. Deku scored off the pass for the game-winner.
Franklin Academy finished the season 14-3-0, making a second straight appearance in the state championship.
Pine Lake Prep finished 14-2-1.
This story was originally published March 27, 2021 at 12:46 PM.
