NCHSAA State 1-A Girl’s Soccer Championship: Final

LAKE NORMAN CHARTER OUTLASTS RALEIGH CHARTER IN OVERTIME IN NCHSAA STATE 1-A WOMEN’S SOCCER FINAL

RALEIGH— Lake Norman Charter outlasted Raleigh Charter 6-3 in overtime in a wild back-and-forth North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 1-A women’s soccer championship game at Dail Soccer Field at North Carolina State University.

There were four goals in the regulation 80 minutes and then six goals in overtime, including three in the space of five minutes in the first extra stanza.

Both teams scored within about 30 seconds of the first overtime, with sophomore forward Erin Iknayan, who was named the championship match Most Valuable Player, getting her second goal of the game to put Lake Norman Charter up 3-2. But moments later Rachel Hammond of Raleigh Charter knocked home a penalty kick to tie it again.

Madeline Iknayan scored in the 85th minute to put Lake Norman Charter back in front 4-3, and six minutes later a long shot by Rachel Quest of the Knights made it 5-3. Then Riley Kane scored her 21st goal of the season with less than two minutes to go in the second OT for the final tally.

Both teams had a couple of scoring opportunities in the first 40 minutes, but failed to capitalize as the first half was scoreless.

Then Lake Norman Charter broke the ice in the 47th minute when Kane tallied with a great individual effort, as the junior forward’s left-footed shot found the back of the net.

But seconds later, after the ensuing kickoff, junior midfield Alexa Dreyer of Raleigh Charter lofted a shot high over the keeper to even the score at 1-1.

The Phoenix then took a 2-1 advantage in the 59th minute as Dreyer delivered a beautiful cross to senior forward Ilana Green, who slammed it home to put Raleigh Charter ahead.

But Lake Norman Charter responded to deadlock the game at 2-2, which is the way the regulation 80 minutes ended. Erin Iknayan knocked in the equalizer in the 73rd minute.

Raleigh Charter was in the finals for the third time, winning the title in 2007 and making its first visit to the finals since 2009, while Lake Norman Charter played for the title for the first time. Lake Norman Charter wound up 19-3-3 overall while Raleigh Charter went 20-2.

The Raleigh Sports Consortium serves as the primary host city partner for the women’s soccer championship, along with the Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
STATE 1-A WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Dail Soccer Field, Cary

                               OT OT
   Lake Norman Charter   0  2  1  3 -- 6
   Raleigh Charter       0  2  1  0 -- 3

SCORING
47th minute LNC—Riley Kane
47th minute RC—Alexa Dreyer
59th minute RC—Ilana Green (Alexa Dreyer, Grace Nipp)
73rd minute LNC—Erin Iknayan
82nd minute LNC—Erin Iknayan
83rd minute RC—Rachel Hammond penalty kick
85th minute LNC—Madeline Iknayan
91st minute LNC—Rachel Quest
98th minute LNC—Riley Kane