How South Meck boys’ soccer upset Hickory Ridge, advanced to 4A state championship
South Mecklenburg’s wandering boys’ soccer team has one more road trip to make.
The Sabres added another chapter to their unlikely playoff run Tuesday night, blanking host Hickory Ridge 1-0 and earning a spot in the 4A state championship match.
South Mecklenburg (16-6-3) will face Apex Friendship (15-5-1) Friday at 7 p.m. in Browns Summit, near Greensboro, for the state title.
Also gaining a berth in the finals was Community School of Davidson, which blanked defending state champion C.D. Owen 3-0 in the 2A West Regional finals.
As the No. 24 seed in the West, South Mecklenburg has been the road team in all five of its playoff games this fall.
“I don’t know if a team has ever won five games in a row on the road and reached the championship,” South Mecklenburg coach Eric White said. “But I’ve never heard of anything like that happening.”
Hickory Ridge (17-3-5), playing in the soccer regional finals for the first time, made the Sabres work hard for the victory.
South Mecklenburg scored its goal with less than 90 seconds remaining in the first half. Then the Sabres absorbed an onslaught from the Ragin’ Bulls in the final 40 minutes.
“They threw some numbers at us,” White said. “We knew they’d do that. They’re a good team, and they made us work for it.”
But time after time, South Mecklenburg senior goalkeeper Paul Northcutt came up big, making seven saves in the second half.
With 15 minutes remaining, Hickory Ridge senior defender Kyle Blake got off a blistering 20-yard shot toward the net. Northcutt leaped, tipping the ball over the top of the goal.
Then with about 4½ minutes to play, the Ragin’ Bulls got a free kick from 18 yards out. Senior Connor Green’s low line drive got through a group of players, but Northcutt was there to make the save.
The South Mecklenburg goalie also made a point-blank save midway in the second half on a short header by senior Ty Fritts.
“Our goalkeeper made some big saves,” White said. “They really put the pressure on us.”
The Sabres typically employ a ball-control style of play, but Hickory Ridge repeatedly forced turnovers in the first half.
“They did a good job of not allowing us to play our style,” White said.
The breakthrough came in the closing minutes of the half. South Mecklenburg senior midfielder Callen Ferguson got possession of the ball to the right of the Hickory Ridge net. Ferguson dribbled the ball very close to the out-of-bounds line, and the Ragin’ Bulls appeared to think Ferguson had gone over the line.
But there was no whistle to stop play, and Ferguson passed the ball in front of the net, where senior Griffin Lewison took control and delivered a shot from about 15 yards. The ball flew past Hickory Ridge goalkeeper Nolan Trout.
South Mecklenburg last played in the state finals in 2015, when the Sabres took the 4A title. Apex Friendship, a 15 seed which played three of its five postseason matches on the road, is in the championship for the first time.
Community School advances to finals
Community School of Davidson (22-2-1) advanced to the state finals for the third time with its 3-0 shutout of top seed C.D. Owen (20-2)
The Spartans scored twice in the first half, then relied on goalkeeper Charles Bloom to complete his 11th shutout of the season. Four of those clean sheets have come in the playoffs.
Community School of Davidson will face Franklin Academy (19-4-3) Saturday at 6 for the state championship.
Community School of Davidson reached the finals in 2015 and ’18, both times as a 1A school. The Spartans lost each time.
▪ In the 3A regional finals, Hickory (23-2-2) blanked Enka 1-0, and First Flight (21-0-1) remained unbeaten with a 2-0 victory against J.H. Rose. The 1A finals will be contested between Stanly County’s Gray Stone Day (20-2-2) and Hobbton (23-3-1). Gray Stone Day knocked off previously unbeaten Thomas Jefferson Academy (20-1-2) 1-0.
▪ The N.C. High School Athletic Association announced the state championship game days: 4A, Friday, 7 p.m.; 3A, Saturday, 11 a.m.; 1A, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.; 2A, Saturday, 6 p.m.
NCHSAA playoff scores and schedule
Boys’ soccer
Note: The N.C. High School Athletic Association will announce the schedule for this weekend’s state finals on Wednesday. Matches will be either Friday or Saturday. All matches will be at Bryan Park, in Browns Summit
Class 4A
Tuesday’s regional finals
West
South Mecklenburg 1, Hickory Ridge 0
East
Apex Friendship 3. Cardinal Gibbons 0
State championship
South Mecklenburg (16-6-3) vs. Apex Friendship (20-5-1)
Class 3A
Tuesday’s regional finals
West
Hickory 1, Enka 0
East
First Flight 2, J.H. Rose 0
State championship
Hickory (23-2-2) vs. First Flight (21-0-1)
Class 2A
Tuesday’s regional finals
West
Community School of Davidson 3, C.D. Owen 0
East
Franklin Academy 5, Greene Central 0
State championship
Community School of Davidson (22-2-1) vs. Franklin Academy (19-4-3)
Class 1A
Tuesday’s regional finals
West
Gray Stone Day 1, Thomas Jefferson Academy 0
East
Hobbton 3, North Moore 1
State championship
Gray Stone Day (20-2-2) vs. Hobbton (23-3-1)
