RALEIGH— Christina Gibbons scored a pair of goals to lead Cardinal Gibbons to a 3-0 victory over Hickory St. Stephens on Saturday afternoon for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A women’s soccer championship at Dail Soccer Field at N.C. State University.

Gibbons, a Duke signee who scored five goals in a playoff game against Burlington Williams earlier in the playoffs, was named Most Valuable Player of the championship match.

The Crusaders exerted heavy pressure in the first 20 minutes and tallied just 2:08 into the contest when all-American Morgan Reid found the back of the net. Then Cardinal Gibbons made it 2-0 in the 11^th minute with a two on one that resulted in a goal by Gibbons.

In the 60^th minute, Gibbons dribbled down the right side and then tucked it into the left corner of the net for a 3-0 advantage.

The Crusader defense, with senior Kristen Twomey in goal, recorded its 18^th shutout in 25 games. Twomey had five saves as Gibbons outshot St. Stephens 20-9.

Cardinal Gibbons finished the season 22-2-1 and played for the NCHSAA women’s soccer championship for the fourth time, winning its second state crown. The Crusaders won the 2-A title in 2007 and now have an amazing 38-6 record in state playoff competition in the last eight seasons.  St. Stephens made its first appearance in the championship and the Indians ended the campaign 21-4-2.

The Raleigh Sports Consortium serves as the primary host city partner for the women’s soccer championship, along with the Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

STATE 3-A WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

Dail Soccer Field, N.C. State University

Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons 2 1 — 3

Hickory St. Stephens 0 0 — 0

SCORING

3^rd minute CG—Morgan Reid

11^th minute CG—Christina Gibbons

60^th minute CG—Christina Gibbons

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