Ardrey Kell takes down Ashley again, wins second NC girls’ soccer title
Ardrey Kell remains a nemesis in the girls’ soccer state championship.
The Knights defeated Ashley 2-1 on Saturday evening, knocking off the Wilmington school in the N.C. 4A title game for the second time in three years.
With a strong crowd of supporters at nearby Mecklenburg County SportsPlex, the south Charlotte high school seized an early advantage and held off a late push.
“This season was even cooler than when we won states the first time,” senior midfielder Ellie Riechman said. “Losing states my freshman year and going back, you’re kind of expected to win. We weren’t an underdog.
“I don’t want to say people underestimated us, but they kind of lost track of us. And so coming back, rebuilding and stepping up our game to win a state championship is such a cool feeling.”
The victory marks Ardrey Kell’s second NCHSAA championship and another defining moment for one of the state’s powerhouse programs.
Playing in their sixth title game, the Knights previously reached the 4A championship in three of four years between 2008-11, and several of those losses came on penalty kicks.
The program returned with head coach Kim Montgomery in 2022 and fell in another PK shootout, preceding their first victory over the Screaming Eagles. The Knights edged another stout squad — this time roughly 10 miles from their school.
“We wanted to go ahead and finish the job,” Montgomery said. “The moment this team has provided for our AK community, our faculty, staff and all the students. ... We don’t take our foot off the gas. To get here and pull the Ardrey Kell community back together. We had a lot of teachers, lots of faculty. All of our students are just out in full force. I saw them with football helmets on.”
How the Knights won another state championship
Ardrey Kell (23-3-4) got the scoring started early.
Riechman headed home a corner kick from freshman Rhyan Winnek to take a 1-0 lead early in the first half. The goal came off the Knights’ second consecutive corner, with Winnek placing the ball perfectly for Riechman to finish with a well-timed header at the right side of the goal.
The Knights extended their lead midway through the second half.
Sophomore forward Makayla Rodriguez created space and rifled in a solo shot, giving Ardrey Kell a 2-0 advanatge and key insurance down the stretch.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Rodriguez said. “Especially considering it’s my first state championship won, and there’s no other team I’d rather do it with. It’s great support. This whole team is amazing.”
Ashley (22-3-2) had several strong offensive chances late and broke through.
Junior forward Kieran Bradley cut the deficit to 2-1, giving the Screaming Eagles life during the closing minutes.
Ardrey Kell’s defense, though, held firm. Senior goalie Waleska Rugel Gonzalez was steady throughout the evening, and Riechman helped preserve the lead with a crucial kick save late.
Notable
▪ Ardrey Kell knocked off top-seeded Hickory Ridge and No. 2 seed Charlotte Catholic, winning four straight road playoff games en route to its state title.
▪ The sides tied, 1-1, when they met March 14 in a regular-season game.
▪ Ardrey Kell, playing in its sixth title game in school history, is among 21 programs in Mecklenburg County that have won a girls’ soccer state title.
They said it
“I still can’t believe it,” Montgomery said. “I’m surprised I’m not balling my eyes out. I’ve cried before, and I cry all the time. I cried every ... speech before every single playoff game, because I just didn’t want it to end.”
This story was originally published May 31, 2025 at 7:45 PM.
