CARY, N.C. – Cedar Ridge started off hot, netting the first three goals of the contest, but Weddington regrouped scoring three of their own in 1:06 to tie it on their way to a 21-6 victory and the school’s first Men’s Lacrosse State Championship.
The Warriors captured the 1A/2A/3A Men’s Lacrosse Championship on the strength of a 12-2 second period that saw Austin Leonard net four goals in the frame. Leonard also added an assist in the second quarter before picking up his fifth and final goal of the night in the early third quarter. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Alex Helms got the Weddington side on the scoreboard with 10:35 to go in the second quarter, sparking a 6-0 run to take the lead that the Warriors did not relinquish. Helms finished with a trio of goals on the night.
Hunter Fasanaro tied the game at three a piece on a beautiful feed over the middle by Leonard with 9:29 to go in the second frame. Fasanaro added the go-ahead goal just 1:12 later making the score 4-3. He went on score four goals and had an assist.
Cedar Ridge started strong with long-stick defender Cole Bullard tallying the first two goals of the game to give the Red Wolves a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Sean Tobin added his first of three with 11:39 to go in the second quarter to extend the Red Wolves’ lead to 3-0, their largest of the night.
Cedar Ridge finished the season 12-5, making their first appearance in an NCHSAA State Championship game in Men’s Lacrosse. They were 8-0 in Conference 6, winning the league.
Weddington’s season concluded 19-1 on the year, winning the school’s first NCHSAA Men’s Lacrosse State Championship. The Warriors lone loss of the season came against Lake Norman who is playing in the 4A Title Game tomorrow against Middle Creek.
CRHS WHS 6 Goals 21 35 Shots 50 14 Saves 7 19 Faceoffs 13 40 Groundballs 47
First Quarter
1Q – 9:56 – #38 Cedar Ridge – Cole Bullard goal, unassisted (CRHS 1-0)
1Q – 6:10 – #38 Cedar Ridge – Cole Bullard goal, unassisted (CRHS 2-0)
Second Quarter
2Q – 11:39 – #1 Cedar Ridge – Sean Tobin goal, assisted by Kelsey Acome (CRHS 3-0)
2Q – 10:35 – #2 Weddington – Alex Helms goal, unassisted (CRHS 3-1)
2Q – 10:03 – #1 Weddington – Austin Leonard goal, assisted by Hunter Fasanaro (CRHS 3-2)
2Q – 9:29 – #22 Weddington – Hunter Fasanaro goal, assisted by Austin Leonard (Tied 3-3)
2Q – 8:11 – #22 Weddington – Hunter Fasanaro goal, unassisted (WHS 4-3)
2Q – 6:54 – #1 Weddington – Austin Leonard goal, assisted by Eamon Murphy (WHS 5-3)
2Q – 6:20 – #16 Weddington – James Shipley goal, unassisted (WHS 6-3)
2Q – 5:38 – #1 Cedar Ridge – Sean Tobin goal, unassisted (WHS 6-4)
2Q – 5:28 – #9 Weddington – Patrick Burke goal, unassisted (WHS 7-4)
2Q – 4:28 – #32 Weddington – Cole Dinwiddie goal, assisted by Michael Burns (WHS 8-4)
2Q – 3:49 – #1 Weddington – Austin Leonard goal, unassisted (WHS 9-4)
2Q – 2:12 – #1 Weddington – Austin Leonard goal, assisted by James Shipley (WHS 10-4)
2Q – 1:33 – #11 Weddington – Eamon Murphy goal, assisted by Nathan Fasanaro (WHS 11-4)
2Q – 1:13 – #2 Weddington – Alex Helms goal, unassisted (WHS 12-4)
Third Quarter
3Q – 11:10 – #32 Weddington – Cole Dinwiddie goal, assisted by Michael Burns (WHS 13-4)
3Q – 9:45 – #1 Weddington – Austin Leonard goal, unassisted (WHS 14-4)
3Q – 9:09 – #32 Weddington – Cole Dinwiddie goal, assisted by James Shipley (WHS 15-4)
3Q – 7:28 – #7 Weddington – Michael Burns goal, unassisted (WHS 16-4)
3Q – 5:48 – #3 Cedar Ridge – Jacob Miles goal, unassisted (WHS 16-5)
3Q – 5:37 – #22 Weddington – Hunter Fasanaro goal, assisted by Michael Burns (WHS 17-5)
3Q – 2:08 – #22 Weddington – Hunter Fasanaro goal, unassisted (WHS 18-5)
3Q – 1:06 – #15 Weddington – Anthony Todaro goal, assisted by Nathan Fasanaro (WHS 19-5)
Fourth Quarter
4Q – 11:20 – #2 Weddington – Alex Helms goal, unassisted (WHS 20-5)
4Q – 9:58 – #1 Cedar Ridge – Sean Tobin goal, assisted by Carter Danku (WHS 20-6)
4Q – 5:50 – #15 Weddington – Anthony Todaro goal, unassisted (WHS 21-6)
MVP – #1 Austin Leonard, Weddington, 5 goals, 1 assist