Ardrey Kell dominates regional final, gets another shot at first state title
Ardrey Kell hopes the fifth time is the charm.
After losing a heartbreaking state final last year to Cardinal Gibbons, the Knights are going back to the NCHSAA 4A state finals for the second straight season and the fifth time in school history.
Ardrey Kell has never won the ring.
On Tuesday night, the Knights jumped out to a big lead against Weddington in the NCHAA 4A Western Regional championship and won 7-0. Ardrey Kell also won its 13th game in a row.
The Knights, ranked No. 33 nationally by MaxPreps, beat the No. 7-ranked team on the road for the second time this season. Ardrey Kell started the season with a 3-0 win at Weddington in February.
“Getting those three quick goals in the first half put us in a good spot,” Ardrey Kell coach Kim Montgomery said. “This is a strong defensive team, and the defense really took care of things. But we kept pushing the tempo, too.”
Next up is Friday’s state final at UNC-Greensboro, against Wilmington Ashley (25-1). Ashley beat Chapel Hill 2-1 in OT in the Eastern 4A final Tuesday.
The Knights will hope to put last year’s state finals loss behind them. Ardrey Kell was ranked No. 3 nationally and dominated most of the 2022 state final game against Cardinal Gibbons, but didn’t score much. Gibbons won on penalty kicks after four overtime periods. The teams were tied 1-1 after regulation.
Ardrey Kell has only scored one goal in its previous state finals appearances. The Knights were shut out in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
In this year’s regional final, the Knights had no trouble finding the back of the net. Ardrey Kell had 12 shots on goal Tuesday, compared to five for Weddington. Knights goalie Caroline McSweeney had six saves.
The Knights got got goals from Carly Montgomery, Grace Meyers and Taylor Suarez in the first 20 minutes. In the second half, Ardrey Kell continued to score.
With 24:45 to play, Ellie Reichman knocked in a corner kick from Taylor Suarez. About 10 minutes later, Suarez scored on a penalty kick, and with 11:44 to play, Brooke Watts scored on a Suarez assist. Kelley Tarpley finished the scoring with a breakaway goal with 13 seconds left.
Other regional finals
South Point 3, West Henderson 2: The Red Raiders advanced to the state finals for the first time. Grace Smith scored all three South Point goals. West Henderson took a 1-0 lead before Smith answered with two goals for a 2-1 second-half lead. West Henderson tied the score with less than 13 minutes remaining before Smith delivered the game-winner with 6:30 to play. South Point will play Eastern Alamance in Saturday’s state finals.
Christ The King 2, Union Academy 0: Christ The King repeated as NCHSAA 1A Western Regional champions and advanced to Saturday’s state final against Woods Charter. It’s a rematch of the 2022 state final, which Christ The King won 3-0.
Wheatmore 2, Pine Lake Prep 0: Ellie Garrison scored both goals for Wheatmore, raising her season total to 94. Pine Lake Prep (20-2-2) had its five-game win streak snapped. Wheatmore (24-0) will play Manteo or Clinton in Saturday’s state final.
— Correspondent Steve Lyttle contributed
PHOTOS: Ardrey Kell soccer at Weddington
This story was originally published May 30, 2023 at 8:55 PM.
