Charlotte Country Day field hockey wins NCISAA-record 16th state title
Saturday turned into a Sweet 16 celebration for Charlotte Country Day’s field hockey team.
The Buccaneers won their 16th N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over long-time rival Charlotte Latin.
“Sixteen state championships?” said Country Day junior Holland Wilkins, who scored the game’s only goal late in the third quarter. “That’s crazy. It’s my second, so that’s fine.”
Saturday’s victory adds to the NCISAA titles the Buccaneers’ field hockey program won in 2023, 2021, 2019, 2014, 2013, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1994, 1993, 1984 and 1983. No NCISAA program has won more state titles in the sport.
It also avenges Country Day’s lone loss of the 2025 season, a 1-0 defeat to Latin in the teams’ next-to-last regular-season game on Oct. 7. The Buccaneers (20-1) had beaten the Hawks in their first matchup, winning 2-1 on Sept. 18.
Just from those two games, and the history between the two Charlotte private schools, Country Day head coach Kayleigh Ferlan knew Saturday’s state title game could come down to one play.
“They are a wonderful team. They’re excellent,” Ferlan said of Latin. “We’re also excellent; the two best teams in the state. I knew it was going to be a battle, but I’m so happy things turned out the way they did.”
There’s also history between the two schools in the state finals — Latin’s wins in 2018 and 2019 both came against Country Day.
“This program is built on the people before us,” Ferlan said. “We talk about our alumni constantly – the hard work and effort they put on here, and how we’re lucky to put on their jerseys.
“My program will continue in that way, and we’re always going to be fighting for a state championship.”
Country Day’s Wilkins, an early commit to play at Harvard in the fall of 2026, scored with 1 minute, 15 seconds left in the third quarter off a Buccaneers’ penalty corner opportunity.
After taking the pass, she slipped between two Latin defenders and fired a shot past Hawks goalkeeper Maren Weiers for the first – and, as it turned out, the only – goal of the match.
“At halftime, we talked about getting one goal,” said Wilkins, who picked up her 11th goal of the season. “If we got that one goal, it would give us the momentum.
“When we got that corner, coach said it was coming to me on the left. I just told myself I was going to score.”
The corner opportunities, which are awarded when an defending player commits a foul within the 16-yard scoring circle, were the only real opportunities for either team to score in Saturday’s match.
Charlotte Latin had six corner chances, but didn’t come close to converting any of them. Meanwhile, Country Day had seven — and made the last one pay off.
“The teams were very evenly matched,” said Charlotte Latin coach Joey Prestidge, whose Hawks, which has eight NCISAA field hockey titles, finished the season 17-5. “Both defenses did a pretty good job, to be honest. All the best chances in the game came from the corners; it tends to be the way things go.
“Those corners are the bread-and-butter of the game. Today, Country Day put one away, and congratulations for being able to do that. We were right there, just didn’t quite get it on today.”
This story was originally published October 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM.