CARY – Allen Lomax scored the only goal of the game in the second sudden-victory period to lift Lake Norman to a thrilling 1-0 decision over defending state champion Jacksonville in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association men’s state 3-A soccer championship on Saturday at SAS Soccer Park.

Lomax, a senior midfielder, tallied his team-leading 23rd goal of the year just 1:19 before the game would have gone to penalty kicks to decide the title. He was named the championship match’s Most Valuable Player.

Lake Norman won its first NCHSAA state soccer championship as the Wildcats finished a perfect 27-0 season. Jacksonville ended the season 17-9-1.

Seph Babbington scored a pair of goals to lead Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons past Mount Pleasant 6-3 in the 2-A men’s soccer final.

Babbington, a sophomore forward, was named Most Valuable Player of the championship as he tallied his 29th and 30th goals of the season. Cardinal Gibbons dominated most of the physical match, although the Crusaders fell behind 1-0 on a goal about seven minutes in by Weston Brown of Mount Pleasant. The Crusaders came back to lead 2-1 at the half and by as much as 5-1 at one point.

Matt Abadie also had two goals for the Crusaders, while Mark Piegore and Jon McCracken each had one for the winners.

Tyler Senecal and J. J. Miles scored second-half goals for Mount Pleasant.

Cardinal Gibbons, which was the 2-A runner-up a year ago, finished the season at 26-2 overall and with a season-ending 19-game winning streak. Mount Pleasant suffered its first loss after 24 consecutive wins.

The six goals in a state championship match tied the NCHSAA record, which was achieved by Jamestown Ragsdale against South Iredell in 1991 and Charlotte Providence against Apex in 2000.

Wendy’s and the Carolina Ford Dealers are the presenting sponsors of the NCHSAA sports program.