The 2025 NCHSAA Lacrosse State Championships, held May 30–31 at Durham County Memorial Stadium, featured thrilling matchups across all classifications.
Croatan edges LNC with last-minute goal
Croatan 13, Lake Norman Charter 12 – Box Score
The Croatan Cougars won their first NCHSAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship with a dramatic 13-12 win against Lake Norman Charter on Friday night at the Durham County Memorial Stadium.
The win, which came in the Championship Match debut for the Cougars, ends a three-year run of Championships for the Lake Norman Charter Knights.
Croatan led 9-8 heading into the fourth quarter and after Andrew Oliver tied the score 13 seconds into the period, the Cougars scored three straight to stretch the lead out to 12-9. Lake Norman Charter responded with three straight goals of their own and Oliver tied the score again at 12-12 with 61 seconds to play in the game.
With 42 seconds to play Tommy Williams forced a Knight turnover and with just 20 seconds left on the clock, Matej Roth assisted Dain Sparks on the game-winning goal. Sparks finished the game with a team-high five goals. Roth had three assists and two goals.
For the Knights, Oliver scored seven goals and Tyler Price had three assists and a goal.
Croatan goalie Graham Myers recorded 12 saves in the match and was named the Most Valuable Player in the Championship.
The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing outstanding sportsmanship in each of our State Championship events. The Association has partnered with the North Carolina Farm Bureau to award a pair of Sportsmanship Awards at each championship event, recognizing players who have demonstrated the ideals of outstanding character and sportsmanship throughout the 2024-25 season. The winners of the 1A/2A/3A Men’s Lacrosse Sportsmanship Awards Ryan Ferguson from Croatan and Colin Bradley from Lake Norman Charter.
Cardinal Gibbons holds off Lake Norman
Cardinal Gibbons 10, Lake Norman 8 — Box Score
DURHAM – The Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders edged in front of the Lake Norman Wildcats in the second half to win the program’s seventh NCHSAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship on Saturday afternoon at Durham County Memorial Stadium.
Cardinal Gibbons’ Justin Conly scored three straight goals in the third quarter to turn a 5-5 tie into an 8-5 Crusaders’ lead. Cardinal Gibbons maintained that lead the rest of the way to seal a 10-8 win.
The Crusaders are now 7-1 in NCHSAA Championship Matches.
Conley was one of three Crusaders to net a hat-trick as Zach Kerner and Brown Parker also netted a trio of goals. Ciaran Murphy added a goal for the Crusaders as well.
Kerner, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship, also had a pair of assists.
For the Wildcats, Brandon DeBerardinis scored three times, and Kayden Robles found the net twice. Cannon Wiggington, Brady Johnson and Connor Mumford each added one goal for Lake Norman.
Saturday’s Championship was a rematch of a March 22 contest which the Crusaders also won, 9-8 in overtime.
Lake Norman finished the season 20-5 and is now 2-5 all-time in NCHSAA Championship Matches. Cardinal Gibbons ended 2025 24-2.
The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing outstanding sportsmanship in each of our State Championship events. The Association has partnered with the North Carolina Farm Bureau to award a pair of Sportsmanship Awards at each championship event, recognizing players who have demonstrated the ideals of outstanding character and sportsmanship throughout the 2024-25 season. The winners of the 4A Men’s Lacrosse Sportsmanship Awards were Mason Sulek from Lake Norman and Joey Jonske from Cardinal Gibbons.
Union Pines repeats as 1A/2A/3A Women’s Champions
Union Pines 18, Bishop McGuinness 8 – Box Score
The Union Pines Vikings successfully defended their 2024 Championship as they beat Bishop McGuinness 18-8 on Friday afternoon at the Durham County Memorial Stadium in the NCHSAA 1A/2A/3A Women’s Lacrosse Championship.
The Vikings also beat the Villains in the 2024 Championship.
The Vikings and Villains were tied at 3-3 at the end of the first period but the Vikings pulled away in the second. Ellie Powell scored three times and assisted on two other goals in the second to push the Union Pines lead to 10-3 at halftime.
Powell, who was named the Most Valuable Player for the game, added two more goals to start the third quarter. The Vikings led 15-3 after Rachel Adams’ goal with 3:43 left in the third quarter, capping a 12-0 run.
Bishop McGuinness’s Kathleen Dennen and Morgan Aho scored the final five goals for the Villains as they outscored Union Pines 5-3 once the run ended but they could not overcome the deficit. Dennen finished the game with five goals and an assist while Aho found the net twice.
Powell scored seven goals for Union Pines and added two assists. Anna Gaab and Addison Volitis each added three goals.
Union Pines finished the year 14-6 overall and they are now 2-0 all-time in NCHSAA Championship Matches. Bishop McGuinness ended the season 20-4 and is now 0-3 in Championship Matches.
The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing outstanding sportsmanship in each of our State Championship events. The Association has partnered with the North Carolina Farm Bureau to award a pair of Sportsmanship Awards at each championship event, recognizing players who have demonstrated the ideals of outstanding character and sportsmanship throughout the 2024-25 season. The winners of the 1A/2A/3A Women’s Lacrosse Sportsmanship Awards are Marian Waterman from Bishop McGuinness and Anna Gaab from Union Pines.
Mullahy leads Crusaders to eighth Championship
Cardinal Gibbons 17, Weddington 7 – Box Score
The Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders claimed their eighth NCHSAA Women’s Lacrosse Championships with a 17-7 win over Weddington on Saturday afternoon at the Durham County Memorial Stadium.
The win gives Cardinal Gibbons three straight women’s lacrosse titles and the Crusaders are now 8-1 in NCHSAA Championship Matches.
On Saturday, the Crusaders led by just one at halftime but outscored the Warriors 5-1 in the third period and 6-1 in the fourth to pull away. Cardinal Gibbons outshot Weddington 36-19 in the game and 19-10 in the second half.
Cardinal Gibbons was led by four goals from Jane Bailey Wad and Ella Grimes. Lexi Mullahy added three goals and four assists and she was named the Most Valuable Player for the Championship.
Hayden Miller and Rocky Phelps each added two goals and two assists for the Crusaders.
For the Warriors, Grace Webb, Ella Turner and Logan Hailey each scored a pair of goals and Webb added an assist.
Cardinal Gibbons finished the season 18-5 while Weddington ended the year 19-8.
The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing outstanding sportsmanship in each of our State Championship events. The Association has partnered with the North Carolina Farm Bureau to award a pair of Sportsmanship Awards at each championship event, recognizing players who have demonstrated the ideals of outstanding character and sportsmanship throughout the 2024-25 season. The winners of the 4A Men’s Lacrosse Sportsmanship Awards were Ragan Giddons from Weddington and Rocky Phelps from Cardinal Gibbons.
