Weddington defeats Lee County 2-0 to win N.C. 3A boys’ soccer title

Seniors Mitchell Van Dyne and Mason Peeler scored second-half goals Saturday night to lift Weddington to the N.C. 3A boys’ soccer championship with a 2-0 victory against Lee County.

After the teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first half, Weddington (20-1-2) scored early in the second half when Van Dyne took a pass from Michael Davidsonand scored just inside the far post for a 1-0 Warriors lead in the 45th minute.

Van Dyne, a senior forward who was a scoring threat throughout the evening, was named the championship’s most valuable player.

The Warriors opened a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute when Jay Peeler passed to senior forward Mason Peeler in the box. Peeler settled it, spun and fired a left-footed shot into the goal.

Weddington, coached by Powell Williams, had a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal, and held a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks.

Weddington goalkeepers Ben Fletcher and Lucas Gusmao split time, with Fletcher credited for a save in the first half and Gusmao getting two saves in the second.

Lee County (25-4-1) had a 14-match winning streak snapped. Weddington ended the season with a 10-match winning streak.

It was the first appearances in the N.C. High School Athletic Association boys’ soccer championship match for the schools.

This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Weddington defeats Lee County 2-0 to win N.C. 3A boys’ soccer title."