CHAPEL HILL – The field is set for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Women’s Soccer State Championships beginning Wednesday, May 11, 2016 and concluding Saturday, May 28, at the Dail Soccer Complex on the campus of N.C. State University.
The field is comprised of 64 teams across each of the four classifications in the Association. The tournament is a single elimination format with games at the higher seed until the neutral site championship round. You can follow the Women’s Soccer State Championship on social media using the official tournament hashtag of the NCHSAA #NCHSAASOC
LAST YEAR’S CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
Panther Creek won the school’s first state championship in women’s soccer, shutting out Providence by a 2-0 score. Catamount’s sophomore Meredith Hamby scored the opening goal on her way to being awarded the game’s Most Valuable Player honors. Hamby opened the scoring in the 29th minute on a one-touch goal from Emma Socha. The Catamounts iced the game with a little more than 15 minutes to play as senior Justine James pounded a shot from well outside the box into the top corner of the netting for a 2-goal lead. Panther Creek closed the season only conceding six goals on the campaign.
A.C. Reynolds tackled Swansboro 2-1 in the 3A Title game, winning the program’s first women’s soccer state title. Senior goalkeeper for the Rockets, Dallas Warren, had 11 saves on the day and was awarded Most Valuable Player honors. The Rockets outlasted Swansboro despite being outshot 13-5 on the day. Christina Shimshock tallied in the tenth minute to take the lead, and the Rockets made it 2-0 when Kaley Cross chipped one in just 12 minutes later. Taylor Ring had the lone goal for the Lady Pirates, her 20th of the year, on a long floting shot that found the back of the net just seconds before halftime.
It took overtime in the 2A championship game as Carrboro sophomore Miah Araba sent a rocket into the net from more than 30 yards out with just over six minutes to play in the second overtime to beat Forbush 2-1. Araba, the game’s M.V.P., also scored the other Jaguar marker on the day, also in overtime, this one in the first of the two extra sessions, scoring in the 85th minute. Just a minute later Shannon Holden netted the equalizer on a scramble in front of the net.
In the 1A State Title Game, Raleigh Charter netted two to get past Bishop McGuinness 2-1, winning the school’s second women’s soccer title and their first since 2007. Senior midfielder Abby Rhodes slipped in the game winner in the 63rd minute off of a perfect feed from Grace Nipp. Nipp ended the season with 45 goals and 22 assists, including the title winner, as she was named the championship’s Most Valuable Player. Mary Kay Walsh put the Villains on top in the 42nd minute following up her own miss, before Raleigh Charter tied it 12 minuts later on a goal by Rachel Erickson.
FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS
4A
EAST
#1 – Clayton (20-1-0) vs. # 32 – Harnett Central (8-9-0)
#16 – Northern Durham (13-6-0) vs. #17 – Jack Britt (13-6-1)
#8 – J.H. Rose (15-2-2) vs. #25 – New Bern (10-7-1)
#9 – Millbrook (14-2-2) vs. #24 – Athens Drive (11-7-3)
#5 – Laney (16-1-3) vs. #28 – Holly Springs (9-8-4)
#12 – Fuquay-Varina (15-4-1) vs. #21 – West Johnston (12-4-3)
#13 – Lumberton (14-5-0) vs. #20 – Apex (9-9-1)
#4 – Leesville Road (18-1-2) vs. #29 – New Hanover (10-9-3)
#3 – D.H. Conley (17-0-2) vs. #30 – Panther Creek (9-9-3)
#14 – Knightdale (13-6-2) vs. #19 – Garner (10-10-0)
#6 – Green Hope (15-1-3) vs. #27 – Ashley (9-7-1)
#11 – Hoggard (15-1-6) vs. #22 – Sanderson (13-6-3)
#7 – Pine Forest (15-2-2) vs. #26 – Middle Creek (8-5-6)
#10 – Overhills (15-3-0) vs. #23 – Wakefield (12-6-1)
#15 – East Chapel Hill (11-9-2) vs. #18 – Heritage (11-6-2)
#2 – Cardinal Gibbons (19-1-0) vs. #31 – Riverside-Durham (7-8-3)
WEST
#1 – Providence (19-1-1) vs. #32 – Davie (8-10-0)
#16 – Southwest Guilford (17-5-0) vs. #17 – Northwest Guilford (14-4-2)
#8 – Hough (14-4-1) vs. #25 – South Mecklenburg (12-5-3)
#9 – East Forsyth (14-3-4) vs. #24 – South Caldwell (13-6-0)
#5 – Lake Norman (15-2-3) vs. #28 – A.L. Brown (11-8-3)
#12 – Grimsley (16-3-1) vs. #21 – Richmond (11-8-2)
#13 – Myers Park (15-3-2) vs. #20 – Independence (12-8-0)
#4 – Pinecrest (13-2-1) vs. #29 – North Mecklenburg (10-10-1)
#3 – T.C. Roberson (18-1-3) vs. #30 – East Mecklenburg (9-9-2)
#14 – Mallard Creek (15-4-1) vs. #19 – Ardrey Kell (13-6-3)
#6 – Page (16-3-1) vs. #27 – Mooresville (11-7-0)
#11 – Charlotte Catholic (20-1-1) vs. #22 – Hopewell (9-10-2)
#7 – West Forsyth (16-2-4) vs. #26 – Olympic (13-7-2)
#10 – Watauga (10-5-2) vs. #23 – Reagan (8-11-0)
#15 – Mount Tabor (17-5-0) vs. #18 – Southern Alamance (14-7-1)
#2 – Porter Ridge (19-2-0) vs. #31 – North Davidson (9-10-2)
3A
EAST
#1 – Terry Sanford (18-0-0) vs. #32 – Southern Nash (8-12-0)
#16 – Western Alamance (9-4-2) vs. #17 – Hunt (11-6-2)
#8 – South Brunswick (5-10-0) vs. #25 – Eastern Alamance (9-7-3)
#9 – Swansboro (16-5-1) vs. #24 – Cedar Ridge (9-7-2)
#5 – Northern Guilford (10-4-1) vs. #28 – Smithfield-Selma (9-11-0)
#12 – Northwood (13-6-1) vs. #21 – Rockingham County (13-4-0)
#13 – Union Pines (14-7-0) vs. #20 – Triton (7-11-3)
#4 – Chapel Hill (14-2-2) vs. #29 – Eastern Wayne (7-9-2)
#3 – Corinth Holders (17-3-1) vs. #30 – Topsail (8-11-3)
#14 – Cleveland (8-9-1) vs. #19 – West Carteret (10-8-2)
#6 – Fike (10-4-2) vs. #27 – Havelock (7-8-4)
#11 – Williams (11-4-2) vs. #22 – Northern Nash (13-6-0)
#7 – C.B. Aycock (10-8-0) vs. #26 – Richlands (10-10-2)
#10 – Rocky Mount (15-6-0) vs. #23 – Grays Creek (13-7-0)
#15 – Southern Lee (14-5-0) vs. #18 – Orange (12-9-0)
#2 – Jacksonville (15-1-3) vs. #31 – J.F. Webb (8-12-1)
WEST
#1 – Weddington (18-0-1) vs. #32 – North Gaston (8-11-1)
#16 – Jay M. Robinson (17-4-0) vs. #17 – West Iredell (16-4-2)
#8 – Tuscola (15-4-1) vs. #25 – Southern Guilford (11-9-1)
#9 – Asheville (15-3-4) vs. #24 – Concord (12-8-2)
#5 – Hickory (15-1-5) vs. #28 – Sun Valley (11-10-0)
#12 – Hickory Ridge (16-5-1) vs. #21 – Ledford (8-10-2)
#13 – Cuthbertson (12-4-2) vs. #20 – Burns (12-9-0)
#4 – Forestview (16-3-0) vs. #29 – East Henderson (10-10-1)
#3 – Kings Mountain (18-2-1) vs. #30 – Erwin (10-11-1)
#14 – North Henderson (14-7-1) vs. #19 – Marvin Ridge (11-6-2)
#6 – Cox Mill (17-4-0) vs. #27 – McMichael (8-7-1)
#11 – Asheboro (17-4-0) vs. #22 – North Iredell (12-7-2)
#7 – South Iredell (15-4-0) vs. #26 – Foard (11-9-1)
#10 – Hibriten (16-2-3) vs. #23 – Northwest Cabarrus (11-7-1)
#15 – A.C. Reynolds (16-2-4) vs. #18 – South Point (16-5-0)
#2 – Southwestern Randolph (17-1-1) vs. #31 – Carson (8-10-2)
2A
EAST
#1 – Carrboro (15-1-2) vs. #32 – Southern Vance (7-15-0)
#16 – Beddingfield (7-8-1) vs. #17 – South Lenoir (5-10-0)
#8 – Goldsboro (11-4-2) vs. #25 – Midway (14-5-0)
#9 – South Columbus (6-6-3) vs. #24 – North Pitt (5-11-0)
#5 – NC School of Math & Science (11-2-2) vs. #28 – Red Springs (8-8-1)
#12 – Bartlett Yancey (16-6-0) vs. #21 – Jordan-Matthews (8-6-0)
#13 – South Granville (11-3-4) vs. #20 – John A. Holmes (10-6-0)
#4 – Clinton (18-4-0) vs. #29 – Northeastern (9-9-1)
#3 – Dixon (14-1-5) vs. #30 – Franklinton (5-10-0)
#14 – Croatan (13-4-5) vs. #19 – Roanoke Rapids (9-4-4)
#6 – Washington (12-3-1) vs. #27 – East Duplin (11-9-0)
#11 – Currituck County (16-2-1) vs. #22 – North Lenoir (5-10-2)
#7 – First Flight (16-5-1) vs. #26 – Durham School of the Arts (10-7-2)
#10 – East Bladen (18-2-0) vs. #23 – Randleman (6-12-0)
#15 – Wheatmore (10-9-1) vs. #18 – Southwest Onslow (11-4-2)
#2 – Trinity (14-2-1) vs. #31 – Northside-Jacksonville (5-11-1)
WEST
#1 – Forbush (21-0-1) vs. #32 – North Wilkes (6-13-2)
#16 – Salisbury (17-3-1) vs. #17 – Surry Central (14-6-2)
#8 – Franklin (12-4-0) vs. #25 – Lexington (9-11-2)
#9 – Ashe County (15-7-0) vs. #24 – Shelby (8-9-1)
#5 – Lake Norman Charter (16-3-1) vs. #28 – Smoky Mountain (8-12-0)
#13 – East Lincoln (13-8-0) vs. #20 – Mount Pleasant (8-9-2)
#4 – Hendersonville (17-3-1) vs. #29 – South Stokes (7-12-1)
#3 – West Davidson (19-2-1) vs. #30 – West Lincoln (6-12-2)
#14 – East Davidson (11-7-3) vs. #19 – West Caldwell (12-8-0)
#6 – Parkwood (14-4-0) vs. #27 – Bunker Hill (8-11-0)
#11 – West Stokes (15-4-2) vs. #22 – Stuart Cramer (13-9-0)
#7 – R-S Central (13-4-0) vs. #26 – West Wilkes (7-9-0)
#10 – Polk County (14-4-0) vs. #23 – Lincolnton (11-8-1)
#15 – Central Academy (8-11-3) vs. #18 – East Rutherford (12-7-0)
#2 – Newton-Conover (19-1-1) vs. #31 – Owen (6-12-1)
The Women’s Soccer Playoff bracket has been updated as two schools withdrew from the field. Lincoln Charter and North Moore in the West each now have first round byes. Below are the revised 1A pairings.
1A
EAST
#1 – Franklin Academy (17-1-0) vs. #32 – Chatham Charter (0-14-0)
#16 – Cape Hatteras (0-11-0) vs. #17 – East Wake Academy (11-7-2)
#8 – Woods Charter (15-6-0) vs. #25 – Kestrel Heights (5-13-1)
#9 – Lejeune (10-4-2) vs. #24 – Research Triangle (6-13-3)
#5 – Granville Central (9-7-1) vs. #28 – Neuse Charter (4-14-1)
#12 – Camden County (9-8-0) vs. #21 – Wallace-Rose Hill (7-11-0)
#13 – Raleigh Charter (12-6-0) vs. #20 – Voyager Academy (8-10-3)
#4 – East Carteret (6-4-3) vs. #29 – Chatham Central (2-12-0)
#3 – Whiteville (17-5-0) vs. #30 – North Duplin (2-12-0)
#14 – James Kenan (9-6-2) vs. #19 – Roxboro Community (7-8-2)
#6 – Trask (9-10-0) vs. #27 – Hobbton (5-14-1)
#11 – West Columbus (10-7-1) vs. #22 – Union (7-11-0)
#7 – Manteo (8-9-0) vs. #26 – Pender (5-14-1)
#10 – Rosewood (12-6-0) vs. #23 – Lakewood (6-11-0)
#15 – Oxford Preparatory (2-12-0) vs. #18 – Princeton (9-7-1)
#2 – Spring Creek (15-2-1) vs. #31 – River Mill Academy (0-19-0)
WEST
#1 – Community School of Davidson (18-0-2), BYE
#16 – Mount Airy (10-10-2) vs. #17 – Cherokee (2-9-1)
#8 – South Davidson (14-4-0) vs. #25 – North Stokes (6-15-1)
#9 – Lincoln Charter (13-6-2), BYE
#5 – Starmount (13-6-1) vs. #28 – Albemarle (3-13-2)
#12 – Swain County (6-7-0) vs. #21 – Elkin (8-9-1)
#13 – Pine Lake Prep (13-4-1) vs. #20 – East Wilkes (9-10-2)
#4 – Bishop McGuinness (13-4-3) vs. #29 – Cherryville (0-19-1)
#3 – North Moore (14-1-0), BYE
#14 – East Montgomery (14-5-0) vs. #19 – Thomas Jefferson Acadmey (8-7-0)
#6 – Highlands (9-5-0) vs. #27 – Mountain Island Charter (4-14-2)
#11 – East Surry (10-9-1-) vs. #22 – Highland Tech (8-12-0)
#7 – Avery County (9-9-1) vs. #26 – North Stanly (4-12-0)
#10 – Union Academy (11-6-3) vs. #23 – West Montgomery (4-8-0)
#15 – Queen’s Grant (12-7-0) vs. #18 – Uwharrie Charter Academy (12-6-0)
#2 – Gray Stone Day (18-1-0) vs. #31 – Walkertown (0-17-0)
Andy, how does Watauga finish 3rd in a 3a/4a conference and not get penalized for fininshing 3rd with a 10h seed in 4a west? Southwest and northwest 2nd and 3rd respectively and they play each other?? Just wondering???
If they finished behind any 3-A teams in that conference, they would still be seeded higher when they separate the 3-A’s and 4-A’s for the playoffs…
Watauga could could even be a #1 if the were #3 behind two 3-A teams and then they might have go the higher seed in the combination of the above set of circumstances and a possible drawing for seeds if Watauga was tied with any other two or three’s,…
It sort of makes me think they might have been tied with some #2 seeds and got an advantage over a drawing…
These are just some early thoughts on this on my part without having looked at the major details such as the Watauga conference standings…
I think they are in a Pioneer Conference up there near Boone and I have seen teams from there in past catch some major breaks come playoff time due the 4-A/3-A breakdown…
Sometimes those 4-A’s will get beaten up by some of the 3-A’s but still get better seeds than the 3-A’s come playoff time due to the lack of other strong 4-A teams in that conference…
I do more looking and try and get you a better answer, but this is my initial impression without studying all of the details and facts…
I’ve seen also in basketball that Watauga has been the beneficiary of the rules regarding the split conference for each of the last 2 years. Watauga’s split 3A/4A conference only has 2 4A teams (Watauga & S Caldwell) out of 8 total teams. As the highest 4A team in their conference, Watauga gets the #1 4A seed from their conference (so the conference gets a #1 seed for both 3A and 4A playoffs).
This year, for basketball, they finished 4th in the conference with a record of 5-9 (12-13 overall) and had a #1 seed in the playoffs. They got shellacked in the first round, but still benefited from having a home game
(concessions, no travel, etc.).
Last year they also benefited from the same rule, though their team was much better than this year’s. Watauga actually won the 1st round game before getting smacked in round 2.
The NCHSAA really needs to review the split conference rules regarding playoff seeds.
Winning the conference is key to all sports for seeding, however this loophole needs to be examined by Nchsaa as suggested