Lake Norman Publications

SOCCER PLAYOFFS: Lake Norman Charter gets two hat tricks in Round 2 rout



Rylie Cook embraces Kayla Patel after a first-half goal against St. Stephens Thursday, May 19. /Doug Coats

HUNTERSVILLE – Have the playoffs started yet for Lake Norman Charter?

The top-seeded Lady Knights soccer team won their second straight game by the mercy rule, taking down St. Stephens 9-0 Thursday in the second round of the 3A state playoffs. Forwards Eliza Rich and Haven Stanley each notched hat tricks for a second straight game, as center-back Reese Robinson found the net twice in the first half.

Robinson got the scoring started early with a goal just 1 minute, 5 seconds into the game. Despite her defensive position, she’s fifth on the team in goals.

“She does a lot of good work, and normally we keep her in back, but she does a lot of restarts for us,” LNC coach Jason Reichert said. “She’s got a strong kick, and we get her into the mix when we can.”

St. Stephens, entered 14-5-2 as the 17-seed, but quickly found themselves in a gaping hole against the reigning 2A state champions. After 7 minutes of play, LNC was already up 4-0.

The Lady Knights expected a closer game, but Rich thought her teammates prepared well for the Indians, and it paid dividends.

“I think we came in knowing a game is a game, it could go either way,” she said. “Just because they are a lower seed doesn’t meet we’re going to have an easy win. We came out pretty strong, our warm up was focused. We didn’t think it was going to be an easy one. Our shots on goal and shots made were very accurate.”

Rich bumped her single-season school-record to 52 goals. She had four in the 13-0 win over West Charlotte in round one.

LNC assistant David Crutchfield, left, and head coach Jason Reichert.

Defensively, the team kept the opponent off the board for the 12th straight contest. The few shots St. Stephens had were denied by sophomore goalkeeper Imani Anzaya.

Reichert, in his first playoffs with the LNC girls team, wants his team to be consistent, but also realizes it can be a challenge to keep the foot on the gas when the game gets out of hand. In the second half, though only lasting 3 minutes and 48 seconds, he made sure to mix up his lineup.

“We expected a challenge tonight,” he said. “The way state tournament is set up, we got to get ready the same way. I like to think we force people to adjust to us, so I try not to make too many adjustment to our play. … “It’s all about what you’re doing right now, not two or three games down the road. You have to keep everybody focused, and gong in the same direction.”

Thursday was the hottest day of the year so far, with the temperature around 90 at kickoff. But Rich said besides their preparation for the game plan, they also prepared for the conditions.

“The girls were hydrated,” she said. “We were hydrated three days before. We knew this heat could affect the game. But I don’t think it affected us at all.”

LNC hosts 8-seed Enka Monday in the third round.

Other playoff scores

4A

(3) Hough 4, (14) Cox Mill 1
Kennedy Bell scored twice, and Lane Hathaway and Maria Rayburn once each as the Huskies beat the 2021 3A champions for the second time this season.
Up Next: vs. (6) T.C. Roberson

(13) Myers Park 2, (4) Lake Norman 0

3A
(4) East Lincoln 2, (13) Hickory 1 (OT)

East Lincoln faced their conference foe Tornadoes for the second time in three games, picking up the win on penalty kicks after a tie in the regular-season finale.
Up Next: vs. (8) Asheboro

2A

(3) Community School of Davidson 7, (19) Brevard 1
Up Next: TBA

(13) Pine Lake Prep 2, (4) West Davidson 0
Up Next: at (5) East Gaston

(1) West Wilkes 8, (17) Lincoln Charter 1

1A

(1) Union Academy 4, (17) Mountain Island Charter 1

(3) Christ the King 7, (14) Cornerstone Charter 0
Up Next: vs. (6) Highlands

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