HS Rewind: Six CMS girls soccer teams advance in NCHSAA playoffs

Six Mecklenburg County teams won their second-round matches Thursday night in the girls’ soccer playoffs, and several other Charlotte-area powers also advanced.

Ardrey Kell, Hough and South Mecklenburg won their 4A matches, while Lake Norman Charter advanced in 3A, Community School of Davidson in 2A, and Christ the King in 1A.

Lake Norman Charter and Christ the King are defending state champions, and Ardrey Kell finished second in the playoffs last spring.

Meanwhile, Union Academy rallied in the late innings Thursday and beat top-seeded Cherryville 5-1 in a third-round baseball playoff game. That contest had been delayed from Tuesday, after a severe thunderstorm caused damage in Cherryville, including at the baseball field.

Girls’ soccer

CLASS 4A

Ardrey Kell 4, Marvin Ridge 0: The Knights (21-3-1) advanced to the state quarterfinals, as junior Taylor Suarez scored two goals. Elie Newman and Carly Montgomery added single tallies, and goalkeeper Caroline McSweeney made seven saves for the shutout.

Ardrey Kell’s next match, on Monday, will be against SoMeck 4A Conference rival South Mecklenburg. The Knights, whose last loss was a 2-1 setback to South Mecklenburg on April 18, have won 10 in a row.

Cox Mill 2, Watauga 0: The 13th-seeded Chargers (13-6-3) made the trip to Boone worthwhile, knocking off No. 2-seeded Watauga. Skylar Noll scored both goals, and Reese DeJong had a big match in goal, making 15 saves.

Hough 2, Cuthbertson 1: The Huskies (20-3-1) advanced to a home quarterfinal match Monday against Cox Mill, as Avery Rush and Sarah Funderburk scored goals.

Northwest Guilford 4, Porter Ridge 1: The 20th-seeded Pirates, who stunned fifth seed Page in the first round, saw their season end with a 9-11-2 record.

South Mecklenburg 2, West Forsyth 0: The Sabres (17-3-1) got two first-half goals, both by Nadia Bolden, and posted the shutout. Kandis Calvin assisted on both goals, and goalkeeper Lily Heaslet made eight saves in getting the clean sheet.

Weddington 7, Northern Guilford 2: The West’s top seed, Weddington (19-4) rolled to victory, building a 5-1 halftime lead. Caroline Arndt scored three goals, and Lilly Devereau added a pair of goals. The Warriors host Lake Norman in a Monday quarterfinal match.

CLASS 3A

East Lincoln 3, Atkins 1 (OT): The Mustangs (19-4-2) went on the road for an overtime victory. Ginny Overbay broke a scoreless tie, scoring with 11:50 left in regulation. Atkins tied it three minutes later, however. The first overtime period was scoreless, but East Lincoln got goals from Grace Harpster and Morgan Brotherton in the second extra session. East Lincoln will travel to second seed West Henderson on Monday.

Enka 4, Central Academy 0: The Cougars (12-11-1) kept it close for a half, trailing 1-0, before Enka surged.

Hickory 3, Central Cabarrus 0: The Vikings finished with a 14-3-1 mark.

Lake Norman Charter 5, Crest 1: The Knights (17-1-2) will host Hibriten in the quarterfinal round.

South Point 3, North Henderson 0: The top-seeded Raiders (19-0-3) will host Enka in a Monday quarterfinal match.

CLASS 2A

Community School of Davidson 1, West Davidson 0: The Spartans (12-8-2), seeded 14th, stunned West Davidson, which entered the match with a 22-0 record and had allowed only three goals all season. The Spartans travel to Jay M. Robinson on Monday.

East Gaston 2, East Davidson 1: Ava Stilwell scored twice, and East Gaston (18-1-2) advanced to a Monday quarterfinal at Hendersonville.

Forest Hills 4, West Stanly 1: The Yellow Jackets (16-4-1) scored the match’s last three goals.

Jay M. Robinson 4, Madison County 3: The Bulldogs (14-7-1) upset sixth seed Madison, behind two goals apiece from Natalie Puskar and Rylee Borsuk. Puskar also had an assist.

Pine Lake Prep 2, C.D. Owen 0: Maddyson Kerley had a goal and an assist, and Avery Garrett scored the other goal, as the top-seeded Pride (18-1-2) moved on. Freshman Madison Harris got the shutout in goal. The Pride will host Forest Hills in a Monday quarterfinals.

Wilkes Central 4, Lincoln Charter 2: Miranda Beauford scored both goals for Lincoln Charter (8-10-2), which was outscored 3-1 in the second half.

CLASS 1A

Bishop McGuinness 7, Bradford Prep 1: The Bears (8-11) fell to the West’s No. 1 seed.

Christ the King 5, Uwharrie Charter 2: The Crusaders (12-2-3) kept their hopes alive of repeating as state champs.

Mountain Island Charter 9, Draughn 0: The Raptors, now 17-4, will travel to Christ the King in the next round.

Union Academy 9, Bethany Community 0: Union Academy improved to 20-3 on the season and will host Thomas Jefferson Academy on Monday.

Baseball

CLASS 1A

Union Academy 5, Cherryville 1: A year ago, Cherryville beat Union Academy 2-games-to-1 in the West Regional finals. This time, the visiting Cardinal moved on to the Elite 8 round.

Cherryville (23-5), the West’s top seed in 1A, led 1-0 after five innings. But Union Academy (15-11) scored three runs in the top of the sixth and added two in the seventh. Nick Henry had two hits and three RBI, and Jeremiah Shine had two hits and scored twice.

Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle