Soccer/softball recap: Myers Park girls soccer takes share of league title
Now the waiting begins for the high school girls’ soccer teams from Ardrey Kell, Myers Park and South Mecklenburg.
After Kell won 9-0 over Palisades, Myers Park sprung a mild upset with a 2-1 victory at South Mecklenburg on Tuesday night that leaves the three teams deadlocked with 10-2 SoMeck 4A Conference records.
With playoff seeding to be determined by the N.C. High School Athletic Association later this week, SoMeck league officials will have to hold a drawing to determine the conference’s Nos. 1, 2 and 3 playoff teams.
“I wish there were more tiebreakers like goals for and against amongst the tied teams, but unfortunately it goes to just drawing out of a hat,” veteran Myers Park coach Bucky McCarley said.
McCarley’s team got in position for a potential top seed on Tuesday by winning at South Mecklenburg to avenge a 2-1 home loss to the Sabres on April 3.
Myers Park was unofficially outshot 14-10 with South Mecklenburg taking five of the first six shots on Tuesday, but Sophia Pinkney’s goal in the 37th minute late in the first half gave the Mustangs a lead they would not give up.
Leading goal scorer Amaya Falzarano made it 2-0 Myers Park in the second minute of the second half before the Mustangs had to hold on against a frenzied South Mecklenburg push.
In the last 15 minutes, the Sabres tallied a goal by Ella Canty and had five shots from close range (that don’t include four misfires on two throw-in chances), one corner kick and a 40-yard blast after a foul on Myers Park in the final minute of action.
For South Mecklenburg, if it doesn’t host a state playoff game, the loss would mark the end of an era at the school’s onsite stadium that opened for football in 1981 and will be under renovated for up to two years.
“It’s not great,” Sabres coach Bryan Murray said of the situation. “I just hate it for the seniors. I’m just hoping we get lucky in the draw.”
South Mecklenburg will be using the old Waddell High stadium and other area fields for upcoming football and soccer home games.
Three who made a difference
Amaya Falzarano, Myers Park: She scored her team-high 27th goal of the season.
Lila Yingling, Myers Park: Goalkeeper saved 10 of South Mecklenburg’s 14 shots.
Ella Canty, South Mecklenburg: The Sabres senior pulled her team within a goal with 15 minutes left in Tuesday’s game.
Notable
▪ Myers Park won its 18th conference title — and first since 2021. The Mustangs won their first league title in 1986 — in the first year Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools began fielding girls soccer teams.
▪ South Mecklenburg’s conference title is its seventh, and also its first since 2021.
▪ Both teams extend long streaks of making postseason play; Myers Park will be making its 19th straight playoff appearance and South Mecklenburg its 17th straight.
They said it
“It’s an important win for a variety of reasons. It’s the last game of the regular season, and you always want to go to the playoffs after a win. It’s an away game at a rival, and if they win, they get the conference title by themselves, and if we win, we tie for the conference title.” - Myers Park coach Bucky McCarley
LINESCORE
Myers Park 1 1 - 2
South Mecklenburg 0 1 - 1
Scoring: MP- Goals: Sophia Pinkney, Amaya Falzarano Assists: Laine Connell, Abby Petty; SM- Goal: Ella Canty.
Softball playoffs
Ardrey Kell 6, Glenn 5: The host Knights scored an NCHSAA 4A playoff victory by scoring three times in the bottom of the seventh, after Glenn had scored three times in the top of the inning. Reilly Cusimano had two hits and two RBI, and Tessa Sanchez-Barrios singled, doubled and tripled.
East Lincoln 1, Fred T. Foard 0: Jordyn Aungst singled in the bottom of the seventh, driving in Lilliana Crane and ending a 3A pitchers’ duel that she was part of. Aungst pitched all seven innings, allowing only three hits.
Forbush 3, Pine Lake Prep 0: The Pride fell in 2A play, although losing pitcher Emery Jensen tossed a two-hitter, struck out eight, and allowed no earned runs.
Hickory Ridge 10, Myers Park 1: Katherine Rhyne had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in three runs for the Ragin’ Bulls in their 4A triumph.
Highland Tech 4, Queen’s Grant Charter 2: The Rams won this 1A contest, as Makaylee Gant had two hits and scored twice. Alyssa Steele and Lily Schott each had an RBI for Queen’s Grant.
Hough 7, A.L. Brown 5: The Huskies won their opening-round 4A playoff game, as Ashlyn Rogers went 3-for-4, with a double and home run. She drove in four runs. A.L. Brown’s Marynda Blackwelder doubled and homered.
Independence 9, Hopewell 2: The Patriots advanced in the 4A West field, behind Maliyah Alexander’s two hits and three RBI.
Marvin Ridge 16, Northwest Guilford 6: The host Mavericks pounded 14 hits in their 4A romp, as Ella Tracy went 3-for-4, scoring three times and driving in five runs. Tracy had a double and a home run.
North Raleigh Christian 15, Charlotte Country Day 5: The Buccaneers fell in first-round NCISAA Division 1 play, but eighth-grader Kennedy Huggins doubled and drove in two runs.
Oak Grove 5, Central Academy 2: The Cougars fell in a 3A game, but Kieryn Peters had a double and two RBI.
Parkwood 12, West Henderson 10: The Wolf Pack advanced in a wild 3A contest. Down 8-7 after six innings, Parkwood scored five times in the top of the seventh — then held on as West Henderson got two runs in the bottom of the inning. Brinley Parker slammed two home runs and drove in six runs for the Wolf Pack, and Grayce Marvel collected four hits.
Providence 4, Charlotte Catholic 3: The Panthers scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh, beating the Cougars for the third time this season. Sophie Stugar had two hits for Providence in its 4A victory.
Providence Day 14, Cary Academy 0: The Chargers rolled to an NCISAA Division 1 first-round victory, as winning pitcher Rachel Lyons tossed a one-hitter and struck out 14. Lyons helped her own cause by slamming a double and a home run.
SouthLake Christian 6, Hickory Grove Christian 1: Eighth-grader Hayden Blair scattered three hits, and the Eagles advanced in NCISAA Division 2 play.
Union Academy 17, Bessemer City 0: Avery Wilson smacked two triples and drove in five runs, as the top-seeded Cardinals rolled to a 1A victory. Paisley Boatright added two doubles and four RBI.
West Lincoln 10, Bandys 0: Gabrielle Wright pitched a four-hit shutout, and West Lincoln advanced in 2A play.
This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 10:56 PM.