Prep roundup: Charlotte Catholic among teams moving on in NCHSAA playoffs
Veteran Charlotte Catholic coach Gary Hoilett expected a strong challenge in Monday’s third round N.C. Class 4A girls soccer state playoff game.
After all, visiting Marvin Ridge is the defending state champion.
But his youthful, unbeaten Cougars were up to the task in a 2-1 win, which advances them to Thursday’s 7 p.m. Western N.C. 4A semifinal against Weddington.
“They’re a good team,” Hoilett said of Marvin Ridge. “I felt confident with the matchups coming into the game. Having seen them on some film and knowing what they had, I understood that they could create some problems for us.
“But I really did think we could be a problem for them moving forward. Thankfully, we were able to create the bigger problems.”
Senior leader Jordyn Miller was the biggest problem for the visiting Mavericks as she scored an unassisted goal in the 26th minute of the match to snap a 1-1 tie. And the goal held up for victory.
“That goal, the game-winner, that was a great strike,” Hoilett, the 2023 N.C. Soccer Hall of Fame inductee who has more than 800 boys and girls high school soccer coaching wins at Catholic.
The rest was up to a Catholic defense that entered Monday’s game with an extraordinary 106-7 goal scoring differential.
“We knew they were coming back and wanting to win a second title but we really held ourselves together,” said Miller, who has committed to play soccer next year at Tufts University in Somerville, Mass.
Three who made a difference
Jordyn Miller, Catholic: Senior forward’s team-high 19th goal of the year was the difference in the closely-contested game. She also assisted Savanna Leckner on the game’s first goal in the sixth minute.
Lucy Chin, Marvin Ridge: Sophomore forward knocked in her team-high 20th goal of the season to knot the score at 1-1 in the 20th minute.
Fallon Leckner, Catholic: Sophomore keeper had 14 shutouts entering Monday’s game and had two critical saves in the final four minutes to preserve the victory.
Notable
▪ Marvin Ridge finished the season 12-2-7 overall under second-year coach Jenna Borrelli, the former Charlotte 49ers women’s soccer standout who guided the Mavericks to the state title last season. Marvin Ridge started five seniors in the loss.
▪ Catholic is pursuing its fourth state title in school history; Previously the Cougars won Class 1A/2A titles in 2002 and 2003 and a Class 3A title in 2011.
▪ Catholic will take a 20-game winning streak into Thursday’s Western semifinal; The Cougars’ lone blemish is a scoreless tie against South Mecklenburg on Feb. 27.
They said it
“It feels amazing. My team really pulled through tonight. We were finishing our chances and our defense was really good tonight. I’m just really proud of us.” - Catholic senior forward Jordyn Miller
Charlotte-area teams roll in the regionals
Monday was a very good day for Charlotte-area girls’ soccer teams as many won third round matches to head to the regional round.
CLASS 4A
Ardrey Kell 2, Hough 0: The Knights (20-3-4) scored a pair of first-half goals, then relied on their defense to knock off the previously unbeaten Huskies (24-1-1).
Twice in the opening 10 minutes, Hough’s Mary Wunder got open shots, but Ardrey Kell goalkeeper Waleska Gonzalez made saves.
Ardrey Kell broke through in the 28th minute, with Makayla Rodriguez scoring on a short shot. Aubrey Bentley and Brooke Watts had assists.
The Knights made it 2-0 in the 36th minute. Taylor Kleinschmidt broke through congestion in front of the Hough goal and headed the ball into the net.
Hough had two big scoring opportunities in the 11th minute of the second half, but Gonzalez came up with the saves.
Hough was 24-0 this season against teams not named Ardrey Kell. In addition to Monday’s victory, the Knights tied the Huskies 1-1 in an April 8 match.
Hickory Ridge 1, Myers Park 0: Hickory Ridge (23-1-1) scored with 27 seconds left in the first half, then held off a furious comeback effort by Myers Park (14-8-2) for the victory.
Hickory Ridge, ranked No. 57 nationally, improved to 12-1 at home and will host Ardrey Kell in Thursday’s quarterfinals. Hickory Ridge has won five straight games.
Myers Park threatened with several close calls in the second half. Hickory Ridge goalkeeper Aubrey Rose made at least two point-blank saves to preserve the shutout.
Weddington 2, Hopewell 0: The third-seeded Warriors (14-2-4) advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinals, when they will face second seed Charlotte Catholic. Paige Santos and Lily Deveraux scored for Weddington.
The loss ended Hopewell’s most successful girls’ soccer season, as the Titans finished 18-7-2.
Weddington outshot the Titans 16-2, and Hopewell goalkeeper Molly Howe had a huge night with 14 saves.
CLASS 3A
Lake Norman Charter 5, West Henderson 1: Lake Norman Charter (19-2-2) won its third straight game with an easy win over West Henderson (16-4-2). Caroline Mercuri and Madison Buffington had two scores each and London Stafford added the fifth goal. Isabella Thamodharan had three assists for the Knights, who will host Hickory’s St. Stephens High in Thursday’s state quarterfinal.
St. Stephens, a No. 16 seed, upset No. 8 Atkins 2-0 Monday. St. Stephens upset No. 1 seed A.C. Reynolds 2-0 in the second round last week.
South Point def. East Lincoln on PKs: The teams played to a 1-1 tie in regulation, then went scoreless through two overtime periods. South Point (19-3-2) advanced by outscoring East Lincoln (21-3-3) 4-2 in the penalty kick shootout.
CLASS 2A
Pine Lake Prep 9, Patton 0: Pine Lake Prep improved to 18-2 and won its 17th straight game with an easy win Monday. The Pride led 7-0 at halftime.
Junior Sadie Peterson had five goals and senior Avery Garrett had two goals and two assists. Freshman Victoria Christiansen had three assists and a goal. Pine Lake Prep will host Morganton’s Patton (14-8) in the quarterfinals Thursday.
CLASS 1A
Christ The King 7, Bethany Community: Huntersville’s Christ The King (13-5-1) jumped on Bethany Community, which is from Summerfield, NC, leading 4-0 at halftime. Christ The King won its third straight game and will play at No. 1 seeded Bishop McGuinness in the quarterfinals Thursday.
Highland Tech 2, Thomas Jefferson Academy 1: The Rams (18-6-1) built a 2-0 halftime lead, then held off the Gryphons (11-7) for the victory. Highland Tech will face fellow Gaston County team Mountain Island Charter in a Thursday quarterfinal.
Girls’ lacrosse
Hickory 12, North Lincoln 11: The Knights’ (8-10) made a furious second-half comeback that fell a bit short, in this Class 1A-2A-3A playoff game. Hickory (12-5) roared to an 8-1 halftime lead, before North Lincoln battled back, outscoring the hosts 10-4 in the second half.
Lake Norman Charter 22, Pine Lake Prep 3: The Knights (11-6) cruised to a 1A-2A-3A victory, behind eight goals and two assists from Ava Purser. Sam Colantonio added five goals and four assists, and Abigail Shepler totaled three goals and an assist.
