Middle Creek’s boys soccer team fell to Charlotte Catholic in penalty kicks in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 6A state championship on Saturday at Guilford College.
The Mustangs scored in the first half, but Charlotte Catholic tied it to force overtime. After neither team scored in the 30 minutes of overtime action, the Cougars claimed a 1-1 (4-3) win in penalty kicks.
Middle Creek took a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute when a shot by Evan Chestnutt bounced off the Charlotte Catholic keeper and found the foot of Holden Adams, who scored the goal on a shot from inside the box.
Middle Creek led 1-0 at halftime.
Charlotte Catholic tied the game late in the second half. The Cougars’ Braden Mathis scored on a penalty kick to tie the game at 1-1 in the 70th minute.
The Mathis goal ultimately forced overtime in the championship game. Neither team scored in the first two 10-minute periods, and both teams were scoreless through the two 5-minute golden goal periods, leading to penalty kicks.
Brady Flanigan and Chestnutt made the first two penalty kicks for the Mustangs, while Charlotte Catholic split its first two attempts. Sean Lynds scored a PK to bring the Cougars within 2-1.
Middle Creek missed its third penalty kick, which opened the door for Mathis to tie the penalty kicks at 2-2 for Charlotte Catholic.
Streling McGregory and Brady Benton each made the next attempts for their respective teams, but Middle Creek missed the fifth penalty kick attempt. Emmett Drensek took advantage, knocking the final PK into the net to lift Charlotte Catholic to the 6A state title.
Mathis was named the Most Valuable Player of the state championship game after scoring the game-tying goal in regulation and converting on a PK to help Catholic win the title. Mathis also posted three shots on goal.
Aiden Turton was credited with the win in net for the Cougars, tallying six saves.
Cooper Riesenberg led Middle Creek in shots on goal with three. McGregor had two shots on goal on five attempts.
Middle Creek keeper Connor Leitch posted three saves.
This marked the first appearance in a boys soccer state championship for Middle Creek.
Gabe Wilson of Charlotte Catholic and Israel Hernandez of Middle Creek were named the Sportsmanship Award winners by the NCHSAA.
Charlotte Catholic has now won eight boys soccer state championships, but this was the first title for the Cougars since 2008.
