Croatan denies Lake Norman Charter fourth straight lacrosse state title

Lake Norman Charter’s reign as North Carolina’s 1A/2A/3A boys’ lacrosse state champion has ended.

Croatan’s Dain Sparks scored with 20 seconds remaining Friday night as the Cougars edged the Knights, 13-12, in the championship game at Durham County Memorial Stadium.

The Cougars became the first team from the coastal area — and the first not from the Charlotte or Raleigh metro areas — to win a boys’ lacrosse state championship. Croatan’s girls won the 1A/2A/3A title in 2023.

Lake Norman Charter never led Friday night but battled back several times and played the Cougars to a standstill until the closing seconds.

The winning goal came off the stick of Sparks, who scored a team-high five goals. Sparks fell to his knees in front of the Lake Norman Charter goal and swatted the ball past Knights goalkeeper Noah McGovern.

The Knights (19-7) had a chance to tie the match shortly afterward, but Croatan goalkeeper Graham Myers blocked a shot by Bryson Armstrong.

Myers made 12 saves and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

But Lake Norman Charter junior Andrew Oliver had an outstanding game, scoring seven goals. Armstrong collected nine ground balls and caused five turnovers.

Croatan raced to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter, but the Knights battled back and tied the game 4-4 on Oliver’s third goal, with 9:37 left in the second quarter.

The Cougars scored three times in the opening 5 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter and again opened a three-goal lead (12-9).

But once again, the Knights battled back. Jacob Carlascio scored on a blistering left-handed shot with 4:55 remaining, and then Stevie Parker beat Myers on a 15-yard shot with 3:33 remaining.

Oliver then bounced a shot into the left side of the net with 1:01 remaining, and Lake Norman Charter had battled back for a 12-12 tie.

The Knights outshot Croatan 43-35 and had an edge in shots on goal, 24-17.

Union Pines girls repeat: Union Pines downed Bishop McGuinness 18-8 Friday evening, in a repeat of the 2024 girls’ 1A/2A/3A championship.

Ellie Powell had three goals and two assists in the second period, when Union Pines outscored the Vandals 7-0 and built a 10-3 halftime lead. Powell, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, added two goals in the third period, when Union Pines built a 15-3 lead.

This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 10:06 PM.