MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
SWEET’S FINAL SECOND GOAL LIFTS APEX TO DRAMATIC NCHSAA LACROSSE TITLE
CARY – Senior attackman Derek’s Sweet dramatic goal in the final second lifted Apex to a 12-11 triumph over Lake Norman for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s state men’s lacrosse championship Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Sweet had four goals to lead the Cougars to the exciting win, their first state championship in two trips to the NCHSAA final, and finished the season with 49 goals. Luke Sieber had the assist on the game-winner, which came with one second on the clock.
Apex junior goalkeeper Tyler Nesbitt, who came up big several times and was credited with nine saves, was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship.
Lake Norman held a 7-3 lead at the half. The Wildcats got four goals apiece from senior attackman Austin Grassey and senior midfielder Eddie Hendrickson.
Apex finished a 19-2 season while Lake Norman, the defending state champion, was 20-4. Both teams have participated in postseason play with in all four years the NCHSAA has offered a lacrosse championship.
The lacrosse state championships are currently conducted as an “open” tournament, with all classifications competing for a single crown.
WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
HOLMAN LEADS EAST CHAPEL HILL TO VICTORY IN NCHSAA WOMEN’S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
CARY – Senior Sydney Holman scored five goals and added four assists to lead East Chapel Hill to a 15-13 victory over Charlotte Catholic in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s fourth annual state women’s lacrosse championship Saturday afternoon at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Holman was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship match as the Wildcats won their first NCHSAA women’s lacrosse title and finished 17-2 overall. East finished the season on a 12-game winning streak.
East held an 8-6 advantage at the half before Catholic scored the first three goals after intermission to take the lead and set the stage for the Wildcat rally.
Holman, who tallied 13 goals in the East semifinal victory over defending state champion Cary Green Hope, unofficially ended the season with 128 goals, the most in NCHSAA history.
Catholic, in the finals for the third time in the tournament’s four years, ended the campaign 17-3 overall. The Cougars lost to Green Hope in last year’s final.
The lacrosse state championships are currently conducted as an “open” tournament, with all classifications competing for a single crown.
NCHSAA STATE WOMEN’S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
WAKEMED SOCCER PARK, CARY
East Chapel Hill 8 7 —15
Charlotte Catholic 6 7 —13
