Marvin Ridge edges Cuthbertson in OT, returns to NCHSAA soccer title game
Marvin Ridge is back in the soccer state title game.
The Mavericks earned a 2-1 overtime victory against Cuthbertson in the NCHSAA Class 7A men’s soccer semifinals Tuesday night, narrowly defeating their surging Waxhaw rival in a thriller.
Marvin Ridge (21-3-1), the top-seeded Union County high school that opened in 2007, reaches the state championship game for the sixth time; the program has won a trio of 3A titles and fell to Wakefield in last year’s 4A championship game.
The first Class 7A title game is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday in at Guilford College near Greensboro, between the Mavericks and Chapel Hill, which also won in overtime Tuesday to earn the eastern regional title.
The sixth-seeded Cavaliers (14-7-1) entered Tuesday winners of seven consecutive games, having knocked off several higher-seeded schools as they chased their first championship game appearance since 2012.
Marvin Ridge wasn’t having it.
“It was about the team,” said Marvin Ridge junior Colton Perkins, who scored the game-winner late in the second overtime period. “We know we beat (Cuthbertson) two times already, and it’s really hard to get by them another time. It was the mindset coming right out that we've beaten them twice, but that doesn't matter. We had to come out with a better mindset and overcome those challenges.”
How Marvin Ridge defeated Cuthbertson in overtime battle
Collin McKee headed home the first goal of the night off a strong cross from senior Zach Brett. The junior striker’s team-high 15th goal of the season gave the Mavericks a 1-0 lead early in the second half.
Cuthbertson forward Ronan Fahy netted the game-tying goal, setting up the overtime.
The game stayed tied at 1-1 following the conclusion of the first of two 10-minute overtime periods.
Perkins, the Mavericks’ second-highest scorer after Collin McKee, rocketed the game-winner into the back of the cage during the 97th minute, with junior goalie Ford Fehling credited with his fourth assist. Perkins’ 14th goal of the season gave Marvin Ridge its 2-1 upper hand.
Notable
- Marvin Ridge has scored 76 goals this season, outpacing the national average by more than 30 goals, while allowing just 18 goals.
- Cuthbertson’s playoff run as a No. 6 seed included victories against second-seeded Lake Norman and third-seeded West Cabarrus.
- The Union County foes, separated by roughly three miles in Waxhaw, met twice in the regular season. Marvin Ridge won both contests, a 2-0 victory Sept. 15 and a 3-1 overtime win Oct. 8.
Coach said it
“We have the strongest conference in the state, and you can go ahead and print that,” Marvin Ridge head coach Jason Zak said, “because I'll challenge anyone on that. We have the best conference in the state. My guys are battle-tested. We’ve been learning from and decreasing our mistakes, and increasing scoring opportunities. I’m really proud of these boys for battling back. Overtime game, big crowd. ... They're a fun group. Frustrating at times, as boys can be, but they’re the kind of team you root for. If you knew these guys, you’d pull for them.”
Up next for Marvin Ridge
The Mavericks will play Chapel Hill, which defeated New Hanover 3-1 in overtime Tuesday, in the Class 7A men’s soccer championship game at 7:30 p.m. Friday on the campus of Guilford College in Greensboro.
Catholic, East Lincoln reach finals
Charlotte Catholic and East Lincoln each won West regional championships Tuesday night and will play for state championships Saturday at Guilford College.
Meanwhile, Pine Lake Prep and Community School of Davidson each lost close decisions in their regional final matches.
CLASS 6A: Despite playing a man down, Charlotte Catholic surged in the second half on the road and blanked A.C. Reynolds 3-0. The victory sends the Cougars (21-4-1) into the 10th boys’ state soccer championship match in school history.
Charlotte Catholic’s last finals appearance was in 2019, when the Cougars lost to Williams in the 3A title match.
On Tuesday night, the Cougars overcame some problems to win in Asheville. After a scoreless first half, Charlotte Catholic broke through on Rex Bumgarner’s goal in the 42nd minute. Bumgarner scored on a short shot off a header.
But moments later, a Cougars player received a red card, which meant Charlotte Catholic would play the final 38 minutes at an 11-10 player disadvantage.
It made little difference, though, as the Cougars scored on a takeaway in the 61st minute and added a goal seven minutes later on a breakaway, after A.C. Reynolds (22-4) had nearly scored.
Charlotte Catholic won 3A state championships in 1986, 1987 and 2008, the last time the Cougars captured a state title. The Cougars also won the 1A/2A crown in 1992 and 2A championships in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
CLASS 5A: East Lincoln scored once in each half and blanked visiting Enka 2-0 for the West title. It was the second regional championship in school history for the Mustangs, who won the 2A West crown in 2019 but lost in the championship to Dixon.
CLASS 3A: Polk County scored late in the first half and made that goal stand, as the top-seeded Wolverines (18-0-3) blanked Pine Lake Prep 1-0. The Pride finished with a 17-4-1 record.
Polk County scored in the 39th minute on a goal by Tanner Osborn, off a pass from Thomas Varnadore. Pine Lake Prep threatened twice in the second half but couldn’t convert.
CLASS 2A: Community School of Davidson and Gray Stone Day played to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two overtimes, but Gray Stone Day (16-3-4) scored a 4-2 edge in penalty kicks and won the Western Regional championship.
Community School of Davidson (14-6-1) and Gray Stone Day each scored a goal in the first half, then played scoreless soccer until penalty kicks.
Tuesday’s scores, finals schedule
CLASS 8A
Thursday’s state championship
(at Guilford College)
West Forsyth (20-2-2) vs. Hoggard (21-1-2), 7 p.m.
CLASS 7A
Tuesday’s West final
Marvin Ridge 2, Cuthbertson 1 (OT)
Tuesday’s East final
Chapel Hill 3, New Hanover 1
Friday’s state championship
(at Guilford College)
Marvin Ridge (21-3-1) vs. Chapel Hill (18-4), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 6A
Tuesday’s West final
Charlotte Catholic 3, A.C. Reynolds 0
Tuesday’s East final
Middle Creek 2, East Chapel Hill 0
Saturday’s state championship
(at Guilford College)
Charlotte Catholic (21-4-1) vs. Middle Creek (24-1-1), 6 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Tuesday’s West final
East Lincoln 2, Enka 0
Tuesday’s East final
Western Alamance 2, C.B. Aycock 1
Saturday’s state championship
(at Guilford College)
East Lincoln (21-4-1) vs. Western Alamance (28-0), 11 a.m.
CLASS 4A
Tuesday’s West final
Newton-Conover 2, Ashe County 0
Tuesday’s East final
Southwestern Randolph 2, Clinton 1
Friday’s state championship
(at Guilford College)
Newton-Conover (24-1-3) vs. Southwestern Randolph (26-1), 4:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A
Tuesday’s West final
Polk County 1, Pine Lake Prep 0
Tuesday’s East final
Wallace-Rose Hill 5, N.C. School of Science & Math/Durham 4
Saturday’s state championship
(at Guilford College)
Polk County (18-0-3) vs. Wallace-Rose Hill (18-4-1), 2:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Tuesday’s West final
Gray Stone Day 1, Community School of Davidson 1 (Gray Stone Day wins 4-2 on PK’s)
Tuesday’s East final
Manteo 2, Research Triangle 0
Friday’s state championship
(at Guilford College)
Gray Stone Day (16-3-4) vs. Manteo (19-4), 1 p.m.
CLASS 1A
Tuesday’s West final
Thomas Jefferson Academy 3, N.C. School of Science & Math/Morganton 1
Tuesday’s East final
Falls Lake Academy 5, Excelsior Classical 4
Thursday’s state championship
(at Guilford College)
Thomas Jefferson Academy (25-1) vs. Falls Lake Academy (22-5), 3:30 p.m.
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 10:24 PM.
