CHAPEL HILL– The North Carolina High School Athletic Association's fifth annual state lacrosse championships are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, with the first classified championships in NCHSAA history.
Because of the growth of the sport, there are two men’s state finals this year with the 4-A schools having their own championship and the 1-A, 2-A and 3-A schools competing with one another. The women’s championship is still an “open” tournament, with all classifications competing for a single crown.
Two of the contests will feature Apex going against Charlotte Catholic, in the men’s 4-A final on Friday night at 7:35 p.m. and the women’s championship on Saturday at 12:35 p.m. The 1-A/2-A/3-A men’s championship will send Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons (21-0) against Waxhaw Marvin Ridge (18-1) at 4:05 p.m. The schedule had to be arranged to avoid commencement activities at some of the schools still playing.
Friday night’s men’s game pits Apex (19-2) against Catholic (21-3) in a battle of two Cougar squads. Apex is in the finals for the third time in the tournament’s five-year history and has a powerful one-two scoring punch is Colby Lalicker and Jack Hayden. Catholic is a fast, physical team which advanced to the championship by knocking off previously unbeaten Northwest Guilford in the regional round.
The women’s game is also a battle between Apex (17-1) and Charlotte Catholic (22-1), with Catholic returning to the finals for the fourth time in the tournament’s five years. Catholic lost to East Chapel Hill in last year’s championship.
Natalie Wallon poured in nine goals for Catholic in its 17-3 regional victory over Marvin Ridge and has a whopping 118 for the season. Apex, in the women’s final for the second time, got a game-winning goal by Mia Castagnero in a 15-14 regional victory over a strong Cardinal Gibbons team.
In the 1-A/2-A/3-A battle, Marvin Ridge makes its first trip to an NCHSAA lacrosse final and has been relying on a stingy defense. The Mavericks are yielding fewer than four goals per contest and goalie Reilly McDermott has a scintillating save percentage around .700. Shane Hanlon leads the Mavs in goals.
Unbeaten Cardinal Gibbons, which was the 2012 runner-up, has outscored the opposition in the playoffs by an amazing 49-5. Senior Gannon Morrison tops the Crusaders with 54 goals and 68 assists.
Tickets for the championship are eight dollars each or $15 for the doubleheader on Saturday. Parking at the facility is five dollars, and no outside food and beverage may be brought into the stadium. Host city sponsors for the championships include the Raleigh Sports Consortium, the city of Raleigh, the town of Cary, Raleigh Parks and Recreation and the Greater Raleigh Convention and VIsitors Bureau.
The games will be televised by Time Warner Cable.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
5th ANNUAL LACROSSE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary
FRIDAY, MAY 23
Men's 4-A Championship
Apex (19-2) vs. Charlotte Catholic (21-3), 7:35 p.m.
SATURDAY, MAY 24
Women's Championship
Apex (17-1) vs. Charlotte Catholic (22-1), 12:35 p.m.
Men's 1-A/2-A/3-A Championship
Cardinal Gibbons (21-0) vs. Marvin Ridge (18-1), 4:05 p.m.
