Lake Norman Publications

SOCCER PLAYOFFS: Lady Knights escape East Lincoln; Hough season ends


Brianna Hatch and Lake Norman Charter came back down 2-0 to defeat East Lincoln Thursday. /Doug Coats

HUNTERSVILLE – Facing adversity for the first time several months, the top-seeded Lake Norman Charter girls soccer team trailed East Lincoln 2-0 with just 16 minutes remaining in the fourth round of the playoffs, but escaped with a victory to advance to the regional finals.

LNC, who had won its first three games in the 3A West bracket by a 31-0 margin, stormed back to tie the game with 2 minutes left to send it into overtime.

Once it reached the extra periods arrived after a weather delay, the Lady Knights had all the momentum. They scored three times in the first 10-minute period, then once more in the second. Senior forward Eliza Rich scored four goals to lead LNC, increasing her season total to 57, while Haven Stanley added two and a pair of assists.

Two of East Lincoln’s goals were scored via penalty kick.

It marked win 21 in a row for LNC, who won the 2A state title a year ago.

For 4-seeded East Lincoln, the Mustangs had a former conference rival who was always in their way in a position they had long dreamt of, but couldn’t finish the job against a powerhouse program. East had won the Western Foothills 3A on the final day of the regular season, was coming off a dominant third-round win and for the third straight game played without their starting goalkeeper. The team finished the year 18-4-3.

LNC will have to wait a day to discover its next opponent. The Lady Knights will host South Point on Tuesday, May 31.

Huskies fall again to AK

Hough couldn’t avenge its only loss of the year and fell 2-1 on the road to Ardrey Kell in the fourth round of the 4A West bracket.

The Huskies finished the year 22-2-1, having lost to the Knights from Ballantyne by the same score April 1. It was the second straight year Hough lost in the regional semifinals to a south Charlotte school.

Other Scores

2A

(1) Wilkes Central 7, (13) Pine Lake Prep 1

(2) Wheatmore 3, (3) Community School of Davidson 2

1A

(3) Christ the King 1, (2) Bishop McGuinness 0
Up Next: at (1) Union Academy

 

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