Soccer
Hoggard 2 Ashley 1
The Hoggard girls’ soccer program added yet another notch to its belt as the Vikings wrapped up the 2016 regular season with a dramatic 2-1 result in overtime to clinch at least a share of the Mideastern Conference Championship.
With just one setback in league play over the last four years, Hoggard continued its dominance within the local ranks, closing the spring with a 10-0-2 division record and 15-1-6 overall mark.
It wasn’t easy after Ashley broke a scoreless contest to gain a 1-0 lead. Thursday’s match was also delayed because of lightning before the Vikings equalized with 15 minutes left in regulation and went ahead six minutes into the first 10 minute over time period to complete a home-at-home sweep of their crosstown foes.
Chloe Whitaker and Karen Juarez notched goals for Hoggard, while Emma Haywood and Merritt Lemley picked up an assist.
Listed at No. 7 in the latest www.Eurosportscoreboard.com poll within the 4A classification for schools in North Carolina, the Vikings now wait to see if Laney can defeat Topsail on Friday to decide whether they win the outright league title.
Ashley ended the regular season with a 7-5 conference record to finish in third place. With a 9-7-1 overall mark, the Screaming Eagles earned a spot in this year’s 4A state tournament.
New Hanover 5 West Brunswick 1
Play resumed two days later between New Hanover and West Brunswick after lightning postponed action at Legion Stadium on Tuesday. Thursday’s continuation was the only other game to be played across the high school schedule due to storms in the area. The Wildcats closed out a 5-1 victory in their final match of the regular season.
Sally Sloan tallied twice, while Sage Smelick, Ava McLatchy and Liza McLatchy each found the back of the net. Smelick, Abbey Campbell and Joanie Richardson had one assist apiece. Emily Leister also made three saves in goal.
New Hanover closed its 2016 slate with a 7-5 mark in conference and 10-9-3 overall record. The Wildcats clinched a spot in the postseason and will know their seed for the upcoming 4A state playoffs on Monday, May 9.
Coastal Christian 3 Fayetteville Christian 0
Goals (Assists): Jordan Murphy (Danielle Caldropoli); Lyric Robinson (Valerie Lazaridis); Lauren Matthews (Caroline Mansfield)
Laney (9-0-2, 15-1-3) at Topsail PPD until Friday
Mideastern Conference Tournament Softball Championship
No. 1 Topsail (20-3) No. 3 Hoggard (20-6) PPD until 6 p.m. on Friday
Baseball
Hoggard (8-3, 17-4) vs. Ashley (4-7, 9-14) PPD until 6 p.m. on Friday
South Brunswick (4-7, 12-8) at New Hanover (6-5, 13-7) PPD until 6p.m. on Friday
Laney (0-11, 4-18) vs. Topsail (6-4, 13-9) PPD until Saturday, May 7
