CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC EDGES CARDINAL GIBBONS 2-1

IN NCHSAA STATE 3-A WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

CARY— Sophomore forward Jane Cline scored both her team’s goals to propel Charlotte Catholic past Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons 2-1 on Saturday afternoon for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A women’s soccer championship at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Cline’s second goal of the day, with just 8:01 left to play, broke a 1-1 tie and was only the seventh goal allowed all season by Cardinal Gibbons. Catholic’s leading scorer on the year, Cline finished the season with 24 goals.

Cline opened the scoring about midway through the first half to put the Cougars ahead 1-0. But Cardinal Gibbons got an equalizer less than two minutes into the second half, when Crusader leading scorer Christina Gibbons tallied her 14th goal of the season to tie it at 1-1.

Both teams have been perennially strong in women’s soccer. Gibbons was playing in its third NCHSAA championship and lost to Waxhaw Marvin Ridge in last year’s title game, while Catholic was in the finals for the sixth time, with a 3-3 mark in championship play. The Cougars had previously earned NCHSAA state titles in 2002 and ’03 and have been to the state playoffs 20 straight years.

Catholic ended the year 22-2-3, while Cardinal Gibbons suffered its first loss in the state final. The Crusaders finished with a 20-1-1 mark, with a tie with Raleigh Ravenscroft the only other blemish on their slate.

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. Wendy’s is the presenting sponsor for the NCHSAA sports program.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

STATE 3-A WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary

Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons 0 1 —1

Charlotte Catholic 1 1 —2

SCORING

19:48 CC—Jane Cline

41:09 CG—Christina Gibbons

71:59 CC—Jane Cline