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RECAP | 2023 Women’s Soccer State Championship

1A Women's Soccer Championship

GREENSBORO – Weather may have delayed the 1A NCHSAA Women’s Soccer Championship Match but it could not deny the Christ the King Crusaders from repeating as Champions. On Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Soccer Stadium, Christ the King edged Woods Charter 1-0 to take the title back to Huntersville.

After a scoreless first half, the Crusaders broke into the scoring column five minutes into the second half. Junior Brianna Pacholski found the back of the net thanks to an assist from senior Elle Gorman. 

Senior captain Riley Milligan was named MVP.

While the goal made the difference, the Crusaders' defense made the lead stand up, just as it has all season long. Christ the King allowed just six goals in the 2023 regular season and only three in the NCHSAA 1A Playoffs. The win caps the season for the Crusaders at 17-2-3.

Woods Charter also finished as runner-up in 2022 and finished 2023 20-2-3. The Wolves have lost just three matches in the last two seasons, two of them have been to Christ the King in the Championship match. 

The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with the NC Farm Bureau to honor two student-athletes at each of this year’s championships with Sportsmanship Awards for excellence throughout the season. The 1A Women’s Soccer Sportsmanship Award winners were Lucy Miller from Woods Charter and Kate McMahon from Christ the King.


2A Women's Soccer Championship

GREENSBORO – The Manteo Redskins were trailing 1-0 at halftime of the 2A NCHSAA Women’s Soccer Championship Game to the defending champion Wheatmore Warriors. Five goals later, Manteo claimed the program’s first state championship with a 5-3 win at UNCG Soccer Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

Manteo tied things up at 1-1 two minutes into the second half and took the lead for good at 3-2 with 14 minutes to play.

Manteo sophomore Kenzie Flynn was named MVP of the game after she found the net twice and assisted on another goal. That performance caps a tremendous year for Flynn who racked up 42 goals and 20 assists in 2023.

Teammate Kiley Eckard also netted a brace on Saturday and Abbi Calvio scored for the Redskins as well. Lizzie Mantz added an assist.

For the Warriors, Ellie Garrison Garrison scored twice and assisted Summer Bowman on Wheatmore’s other goal. 

The win capped an undefeated season for Manteo at 25-0-2 and gave Wheatmore its first loss since May of 2021.

The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with the NC Farm Bureau to honor two student-athletes at each of this year’s championships with Sportsmanship Awards for excellence throughout the season. The 2A Women’s Soccer Sportsmanship Award winners were Hannah Hogan from Manteo and Mikalah Walls from Wheatmore.

 


3A Women's Soccer Championship

GREENSBORO – Back in February, the Eastern Alamance Eagles tied their season opener 1-1 with Chapel Hill. Since that game, they have rattled off 20 straight wins and allowed just seven goals, including Saturday’s 4-0 win against South Point in the 3A NCHSAA State Championship Game at UNCG Soccer Stadium.

In the title game, senior Molly Widderich found the net twice and added an assist to earn MVP honors. Sophomore Abby Brinker added the other two goals for the Eagles. Widderich finished the 2023 season with 54 goals and Brinker had 34.

Eastern Alamance wrapped 2023 with a staggering 137 goals scored compared to just eight goals allowed.

The win gives Eastern Alamance its first NCHSAA Women’s Soccer Title in their third trip to the championship game. The Eagles lost 2-0 to Lake Norman Charter last season and 4-0 to High Point Central in 1998.

The South Point Red Raiders also came into the contest undefeated and riding a 19-game winnings streak. The Eagles were the first team all season to score more than two goals against the Red Raiders.

The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with the NC Farm Bureau to honor two student-athletes at each of this year’s championships with Sportsmanship Awards for excellence throughout the season. The 3A Women’s Soccer Sportsmanship Award winners were Eastern Alamance’s Ryen Gibbs and South Point’s Payton Decker.


4A Women's Soccer Championship

GREENSBORO – The Ardrey Kell Knights claimed their first NCHSAA Women’s Soccer Championship in their fifth trip to the title game with a 3-2 win against the Ashley Screaming Eagles at UNCG Soccer Stadium on Friday night. 

Ardrey Kell junior Ally Casey earned the MVP honors on the night as she finished with two goals including what turned out to be the game-winner. Casey’s two second-half goals made the difference as the two teams were tied at intermission.

Taylor Suarez opened the scoring in the first half with a goal in the 22nd minute and Ashley’s Karina Peat tied the score in the final five minutes of the first half. 

After Casey’s first goal, a handball in the box gave the Screaming Eagles a chance to tie things back up at 2-2, and Savannah Manset took advantage with a successful penalty kick. Casey’s second goal, thanks to an assist from Suarez, was enough to lift the Knights to victory.

The win avenges a loss in last year’s title game in penalty kicks to Cardinal Gibbons at WakeMed Soccer Park. 

The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with the NC Farm Bureau to honor two student-athletes at each of this year’s championships with Sportsmanship Awards for excellence throughout the season. The 4A Women’s Soccer Sportsmanship Award winners were Kristin Sullivan from Ardrey Kell and Maryn Harris from Ashley.