It’s Knight Time! Ardrey Kell stops Page, will aim for its first state title Saturday
Ardrey Kell was coasting to an appearance in the girls’ state soccer championship match – until visiting Page made them work for it Tuesday night.
The Knights dominated the first half of their 4A West Regional championship clash, then had to hold off the Pirates to log a 3-2 victory.
But all’s well that ends well for Ardrey Kell, and head coach Kim Montgomery is taking her team to the Raleigh area this weekend for a matchup with East Region champion Cardinal Gibbons High, out of Raleigh.
“It’s hard to win five games, to get to the state championship,” Montgomery, her voice cracking with the emotion of the victory, said afterward. “I love these girls. I love this school. I’m so happy for them.”
Ardrey Kell has played in the state championship match three previous times, losing all of those matches. But those state finals appearances came before Montgomery took over as head coach in the spring of 2013.
“It’s not easy to get this far,” she said. “You’ve got to clear some hurdles.”
The Knights (25-1-1), ranked fourth nationally by Maxpreps, didn’t have to clear many hurdles in the first half Tuesday night.
They entertained their 2,000 home fans by outshooting Page (18-5-2) by a 17-0 margin.
Sophomore forward Taylor Suarez, who missed several matches during the regular season while playing with the U.S. National 17-Under team, tortured Page’s defense by repeatedly beating defenders and leading breaks.
She missed three attempts, but in the 35th minute of the first half, Suarez got the ball about 35 yards from the Page goal, dribbled past a defender and beat Page goalkeeper Ava Richards on the left side of the net with a low liner.
Ardrey Kell’s defense was stifling. The Knights didn’t allow Page to threaten in the opening 40 minutes.
Then came the second 40 minutes.
“Five of our players competed in a club tournament in New Jersey over the weekend,” Montgomery said. “They’ve played five matches in six days. I think that took a toll in the second half.”
The Knights seemed to be pulling away when they made it 2-0 in the 15th minute of the second half on a goal by Avery Richards.
But Page cut it to 2-1 four minutes later, scoring when Ardrey Kell goalkeeper Emily Casey – who Montgomery says is “very aggressive in her style” – came about 10-15 yards out from goal in an effort to pick up a loose ball. Page’s Sienna Coker lofted a shot over Casey and into the goal.
With about 13:30 left, Ardrey Kell made it 3-1 when Suarez moved the ball up the right side and delivered a perfect pass into the box to teammate Grace Meyers, who scored.
Then Page came back again, cutting the deficit to 3-2 with 6:59 left on a long looping shot by Anne Adams.
“After that, we tightened up the defense,” Montgomery said. “It wasn’t pretty, but we gutted it out.”
Suarez was injured with 12:30 to play and was helped off the field with what appeared to be a right ankle injury. But she was able to walk on the foot after the match.
PHOTOS: Greensboro Page at Ardrey Kell soccer
3A soccer: Lake Norman Charter wins
Lake Norman Charter built a 3-0 halftime lead and trounced previously unbeaten South Point 5-1, in the 3A West Regional finals.
The victorious Knights (25-1) and South Point (23-1) were ranked 1-2 in the state by Maxpreps.
It will be the fourth consecutive state championship appearance by Lake Norman Charter, which lost in the 2A finals in 2018 and ’19, then won the 2A title last spring.
Lake Norman Charter has moved up to 3A this season.
The Knights threatened several times in the opening minutes, then took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute on a goal by Eliza Rich. Haven Stanley and Kayla Patel scored later in the half for the 3-0 intermission lead.
Rylie Cook got the Knights’ fourth goal, but South Point’s Lexi Birwistle helped her team avoid a shutout by scoring with three minutes remaining. Lake Norman Charter added a goal in the closing minute.
1A soccer: Christ the King in 1st finals
Abby Olean scored a goal in the 20th minute of the first half, then added another goal 12 minutes later, leading Christ the King to a 3-0 victory over previously unbeaten and host Union Academy.
The Crusaders (17-2) advance to their first-ever appearance in the girls’ soccer state championship match. They will face East Region champion Woods Charter, out of Chapel Hill.
Union Academy (22-1) hadn’t allowed more than one goal in a match since beating Forest Hills 6-4 in their season-opener on Feb. 28.
This story was originally published May 31, 2022 at 8:53 PM.
